Crop conditions decline again in last week

The condition of Iowa's corn crop deteriorated slightly more in the last week, the fifth of sub-normal rainfall, according to the USDA's weekly crop report.

Reports of crop damage from high winds and hail were reported from parts of northwest, north central, west central and southwest Iowa during the past week.

Temperatures for the week were mostly above normal and precipitation, at 0.73 inches, was below the normal average of 0.93 inches for the week. Some areas in southeast Iowa have received less than an inche of rain since the end of June, the report said.

The corn crop as of Sunday was rated 14 percent excellent, 45 percent good, 26 percent fair, 10 percent poor and 5 percent very poor. That was a modest decline from the prior week, when the crop was rated 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 48 percent good and 15 percent excellent.

The condition of the soybean crop also declined slightly, to 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 47 percent good and 17 percent excellent.

The corn crop continued to mature quickly. The percentage of the corn crop at the dent stage is now 20 percentage points ahead of average, and at 70 percent is up 29 percentage points from August 22 crop report. Four percent of the corn crop is now mature, slightly behind the normal 5 percent at this time of year.

Four percent of the soybean crop is turning color, behind the five-year average of 15 percent at this time of year.

The report said most of Iowa needs rain to help bean pods fill and relieve stress on other crops.