Soybean crop condition improves, corn worsens despite rains

Widespread rainfall  and cooler temperatures last week did little to help the condition of Iowa's baked corn and soybean crops.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service Crops and Weather report issued Monday rated the condition of the corn crop 22 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 15 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Seven percent of the corn crop is now mature, almost three weeks ahead of normal.

The condition of Iowa's soybean crop improved for the first time in seven weeks and now is rated 14 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Pods are being set on 88 percent of the soybean crop.

There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the past week. Rainfall amounts varied widely with the heaviest precipitation in northeast and southwest Iowa.

The statewide average precipitation was 0.44 inches or a little less than one-half of the weekly normal of 0.96 inches. It is was the eighth consecutive drier-than-normal week for Iowa.

Topsoil moisture levels improved to 60 percent very short, 31 percent short, 9 percent adequate, and zero percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated at 70 percent very short, 26 percent short, 4 percent adequate, and zero percent surplus.

Livestock experienced little to no stress due to seasonable weather during the week.

Only 14 percent of Iowa's pasture and range land is rated in fair or better condition. Pasture and range condition rated 59 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 3 percent good, and zero percent excellent.

Hay markets in Dyersville and Fort Atkinson reported hay harvested from Conservation Reserve Program acreage has begun arriving for auction. The Iowa Department of Transportation has been issuing permits for the harvesting of grass in ditches along highways.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said the cooler temperatures and spotty rainfall brought some "welcome relief" after weeks of scorching temperatures and below-normal precipitation, but "more moisture is needed as crops remain stressed.”