Hot, humid weather maintains corn, soybean conditions

Last week's high humidity and temperatures in the 90's maintained crop and field conditions throughout the state.

Fields with ponded areas were able to dry and yellow crops not too severely hurt by the excess moisture greened up and may still be productive.

The dry spell also allowed operators to continue field work. Farmers began spraying fungicide on corn now that most herbicide spraying has been completed. Producers nearly finished up the first cutting of alfalfa, as well as continued with their second cutting.

By the end of the week, field work ended as strong storms ravaged Iowa with heavy rainfall and high winds knocking down trees. Power lines pulled to the ground by falling branches left several thousand Iowans without power.

Luckily, no major crop damage was reported from the storm.

All nine crop reporting districts in the state reported more than four days suitable for field work, the first time since the week that ended May 30.

Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 37 percent surplus.

Eighty-three percent of the corn crop has tasseled and 62 percent has silked, well ahead of last year and the five-year average. Corn reached milk stage in 6 percent of the crop, ahead of last year's 1 percent and equal to the five-year average.

Corn condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 21 percent excellent.

Seventy percent of Iowa's soybean crop has bloomed, compared to 57 percent last year and 66 percent for the five-year average. Pods have been set in 19 percent of the soybean acres, 2 days ahead of last year but equal to the five-year average.

Soybean condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 18 percent excellent.