Dry weather lets Iowa farmers get to fields

Dry conditions with precipitation not arriving until the weekend allowed Iowa farmers five and a half days suitable for fieldwork in the week that ended Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Seed corn detasseling is nearing completion across much of Iowa.

Ninety-seven percent of the state's corn crop reached the silking stage or beyond, with 51 percent reaching the dough stage or beyond, slightly behind 2014, but four days ahead of the five-year average.

Reports of corn starting to dent were received from across the state. Corn condition was rated 83 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 92 percent, five days behind 2014. Seventy-three percent of soybeans were setting pods. Soybean condition was rated 79 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-one percent of the oat crop for grain or seed has been harvested, four days ahead of last year, but slightly behind the five-year average.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 9 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 8 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.

Limited precipitation across northern Iowa created falling topsoil and subsoil moisture levels across the area, with northwest Iowa reporting more than one-quarter short to very short on topsoil moisture.

'The rains that crossed the state this weekend were welcome in many areas,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey in a news release.

'Unfortunately, some areas, especially in southern Iowa, have suffered as a result of too much moisture,”

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 85 percent, six days behind last year and nine days behind normal. The third cutting of alfalfa hay is 28 percent complete, four days behind the five-year average.

Hay condition dropped slightly to 68 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition dropped 3 percentage points to 73 percent good to excellent.