95% of corn is up, Northey says

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released yesterday by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.  The report is released weekly from April through October.

“Farms that have missed the recent rains, particularly those in the southern part of the state, are drying out quickly due to the high winds and warm temperatures and would welcome some moisture,” Northey said.

The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA's site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia.  The report follows here:

CROP REPORT

Although recent weeks of dry weather allowed rapid planting, a lack of significant rainfall in some areas has resulted in poor soybean stands with seeds lying in dry soil. Persistent high winds through the week slowed spraying and dried out soils.

There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared with 6.6 days the previous week. Rainfall amounts in Northwest Iowa ranged from 1 to 4 inches for the week, leaving only 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork while farmers in the rest of the State were able to work in their fields at least 5.0 days.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 15 percent very short, 36 percent short, 47 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. South central Iowa is the driest with 83 percent of the topsoil moisture rated short to very short while northwest Iowa has only 9 percent rated short to very short.

Subsoil moisture rated 10 percent very short, 32 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, 11 days ahead of normal. Corn condition has decreased slightly to 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Soybean planting stands at 97 percent complete, ahead of last year's 84 percent and the five-year average of 83 percent.

Sixty-six percent of the expected soybean acreage has emerged, ahead of last year's 43 percent and the five-year average of 40 percent.

Thirty-five percent of the oat crop has headed, over 2 weeks ahead of normal. Oat condition decreased slightly to 0 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Weather conditions have been near optimal for cutting alfalfa hay with 72 percent of the first cutting complete, compared to just 4 percent last year and the five-year average of 12 percent. Hay condition is rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Fifty-seven percent of Iowa's pasture and range land is now rated good to excellent, an 11 percentage point decrease from the previous week. Pasture and range condition rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 13 percent excellent.

Livestock conditions have been generally good with some reports of heat stress over the weekend, increasing insects, and coughing.

IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY

By Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

The past reporting week began with dry weather on Monday (21st) and Tuesday (22nd) with thunderstorms bringing rain to the northwest one-quarter of the state on Wednesday (23rd) night where one to two inches fell. Rain was scattered over much of Iowa on Thursday (24th) and Friday (25th); however, amounts were mostly light except for a small portion of northeast Iowa where one to two inches of rain fell.

Some rain persisted into Saturday (26th) morning over the northeast. Sunday (27th) was dry until thunderstorms moved into the far northwest late however this last rain event came too late to be reflected in this week's report.

This week's rain was very welcome; however amounts were on the light side over most of the southern two-thirds of Iowa where additional rain is needed to moisten parched topsoil. Weekly rain totals varied from just sprinkles at Wapello, Washington, Mount Pleasant and Keokuk to 3.46 inches at Clermont in Fayette County and 3.09 inches in south central Woodbury County.

The statewide average precipitation was 0.76 inch while normal for the week is 1.05 inches. Temperatures began on the low side with highs mostly in the 70's on Monday with Elkader starting the day with a morning low of 37 degrees.

Highs were mostly in the 80's on Tuesday and Wednesday with a few low 90's. A cool front split the state on Thursday and Friday with highs in the mid 60s northwest to the mid 80's southeast.

Hot weather returned for the weekend with highs in the 90's south on Saturday and over most of Iowa on Sunday. Bloomfield reached 94 degrees on Saturday while Jefferson reported 96 degrees on Sunday.

Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 5.9 degrees above normal.