116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Soil moisture falls with lack of rain
George C. Ford
Jul. 29, 2014 1:00 am
Lack of precipitation in many parts of Iowa has farmers wishing for more rain and boosting the futures prices of corn and soybeans.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus, declining the previous week, according to a report Monday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.
December corn was up 3.5 cents per bushel to $3.75 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade after falling last week to the lowest level since June 2010.
Soybean futures jumped as much as 1.7 percent following disappointing weekend rains in southwest Iowa and around the U.S. Great Lakes.
Eighty-five percent of the corn acreage was at or beyond the silking stage, about two weeks ahead of the previous year and almost a week ahead of the five-year average. Corn in the dough stage reached 14 percent, 7 points ahead of normal.
Seventy-eight percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition.
Soybean progress advanced to 82 percent blooming or beyond, 10 days ahead of last year and just ahead of the five-year average. Forty-one percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, well ahead of last year's 12 percent.
Seventy-four percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 74 percent complete, 2 percentage points ahead of the previous year but 5 points behind the five-year average. Some farmers started cutting their third crop of alfalfa hay during the week.
The top price for hay at Dyersville Sales on Wednesday was $190 per ton on large square bales of third crop hay and $160 per ton on second crop of round bales. The top price at the Fort Atkinson Hay Auction was $195 per ton on a second drop of small square bales.
(Liz Martin/The Gazette)