Iowa corn, soybean crops needing more rainfall

While some areas of Iowa received rain, most of the state experienced below average rainfall during the week that ended on Sunday.

Statewide, there was an average of 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

A total of 41 percent of topsoil was either adequate or surplus, a decline of 8 percent from the previous week. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 23 percent very short, 36 percent short, 40 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Fifty-four percent of subsoil was in the adequate and surplus categories, down 6 percent from last week. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 11 percent very short, 35 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop has tasseled, trailing the five-year average of 96 percent. Seventy-two percent of the corn crop was silking, well behind last year's 99 percent and the normal 89 percent.

Corn condition was rated at 5 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 41 percent good and 10 percent excellent, declining slightly from the previous week.

Seventy-nine percent of the soybean crop was blooming, behind last year's 96 percent and the five-year average of 92 percent. Pods were setting on 35 percent of the soybean crop, well behind last year's 74 percent and the normal 65 percent.

Soybean condition declined slightly from last week and was rated 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 42 percent good and 10 percent excellent.

Farmers took advantage of the dry weather to make progress harvesting the second cutting of alfalfa hay, which now stands at 87 percent complete, 1 percent ahead of normal. The third cutting of alfalfa hay has begun and is 6 percent compete.

Hay and pasture conditions continued to decline with 6 percent rated good and 11 percent excellent. Hay condition was rated at 2 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 46 percent good and 8 percent excellent.

Dyersville Sales reported plenty of wet hay on Wednesday due to weather conditions, making it tough to get dry hay baled. Top was $280 per ton on second crop orchard and alfalfa mixed hay in big squares.

Round bales topped at $180 per ton on second cutting mixed hay. Overall demand was good.

At the Fort Atkinson Hay Market, most of the sales were for sale was utility and grinding hay with some wet hay being very heavily discounted. Top price was $265 per ton on second crop small square bales.