Soybeans setting pods ahead of schedule; Iowa has ‘another anomalously’ wet week

Eighteen percent of soybeans are setting pods across the state, which is several days ahead of the five-year average. Other crops across Iowa continue to progress close to the normal schedule amid another week of above-average precipitation, according to the crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Corn and soybeans both rated well for the July 7-13 reporting period, respectively at 85 percent and 79 percent good to excellent.

Corn silking reached 36 percent on average across the state, and 5 percent of corn entered the dough stage. The central regions of the state and southeastern Iowa continue to lead the state in terms of acres reaching various development stages.

On average, more than half of soybean acres across the state are blooming, according to the report.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay is 66 percent complete across the state and 7 percent of hay acres have undergone their third cutting already. Hay rated 83 percent good to excellent for the week.

Oats rated 86 percent good to excellent and nearly all, 96 percent, of the crop has headed and 71 percent has colored.

Farmers had fewer than four days suitable for field work during the reporting period because of what State Climatologist Justin Glisan referred to as an “anomalously wet and active” weather week.

On average, the state received 2.37 inches of precipitation during the period, which is more than an inch above the normal. Precipitation accumulation maps for the period show a band of heavy rain from river to river across the central portion of the state. These areas received 2-4 inches more than the normal for the reporting period.

Asbury, in Dubuque County, recorded the most precipitation for the period with 6.77 inches. Several towns in eastern Iowa had flash flooding warnings, and there were tornadoes in Canton and Clarinda, and in Scott County.

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation Monday for Scott County because of damages from the storm. The disaster proclamation opens up state funds to help with repairs to an area and allows affected residents to apply for grants to help pay for repairs and other expenses caused by the storm.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said it was a “wild weather week” for the state.

“Though the rainfall is improving drought conditions and helping the corn during tasseling and pollination, there are now parts of the state that could use a break from the rain,” Naig said in a statement.

According to the report, north-central Iowa has the wettest soil, with 37 percent of topsoil and 38 percent of subsoil moisture conditions rated as surplus for the period. On average, topsoil moisture conditions for the state rated 71 percent adequate and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions for the state were 74 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus.

Southwestern Iowa continued to have the driest soil conditions as 31 percent of topsoil and 35 percent of subsoil rated short.

This article originally appeared in Iowa Capital Dispatch.