Iowa crops thriving on rain, warmer temperatures

CEDAR RAPIDS - Frequent rain slowed field work in the week that ended on Sunday, but helped Iowa's corn and soybean crops mature.

The weekly crop report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service showed only 2.3 days were suitable for farmers to do any fieldwork. Wet conditions also slowed the harvest of the third cutting of alfalfa hay.

More than 90 percent of Iowa's corn crop was in the dough stage or beyond, 23 percentage points above of last year and 6 points above the five-year average. Fifty-three percent of the corn crop had reached the dent stage, eight days ahead of the previous year but four days behind normal.

With corn beginning to mature, 76 percent of the corn acreage was rated in good to excellent condition.

Ninety-six percent of Iowa's soybean crop was setting pods or beyond, a week ahead of last year but slightly behind normal. Soybean leaves turning color reached 8 percent, 5 percentage points ahead of the previous year but 10 points behind the five-year average.

Seventy-three percent of the soybean acreage was rated in good to excellent condition.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

East central Iowa was the driest area of the state with 25 percent of its topsoil in very short to short condition.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 53 percent complete, 22 percentage points below last year and 23 points below the five-year average. Sixty-six percent of all hay was rated in good to excellent condition.

Top price for hay at Dyersville Sales on Aug. 26 was $200 per ton for premium large square bales. At the Fort Atkinson Hay Auction on the same day, the top price was $220 for second crop small square bales.