Last week’s drier conditions too late for some crops

Drier conditions prevailed across much of Iowa last week, but not soon enough to help some farmers' crops.

Iowa received an average of 1.11 inches of rainfall last week, just over the weekly norm of 1.02 inches, according to the weekly Iowa Crops & Weather report from the National Agricultural Statistical Service.

Farmers had 4.6 days suitable for field work, the highest number since the week ending May 30, the report said.

Iowa Secretary of agriculture Bill Northey welcomed the drier weather, but added that “unfortunately it was too late for some farmers that have had crops drowned out.”

“The additional rain over the past weekend has made additional flooding a real threat, especially in Southern Iowa, which has been hardest hit by the extremely wet weather this June,” Northey said.

In low-lying fields where ponding occurred, corn and soybeans have been stunted or completely drowned out, according to the weekly crop report.

“Many places where crops were killed have already been replanted, however sections that are still too wet may not be able to be replanted,” the report said.

Corn and soybeans are mostly in good condition otherwise, the report said, with early-planted corn beginning to silk.

The condition of Iowa's corn crop was rated 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 47 percent good and 18 percent excellent.

The soybean crop of the state was rated 4 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.

Nearly all of the state's oat crop has headed and 52 percent has turned color, compared to a five-year average of 41 percent turning color at this date.

Temperatures in Cedar Rapids averaged three degrees lower than normal for the week, and precipitation at Cedar Rapids was 0.91 inches below normal, at 0.11 inches.

Temperatures in Iowa City averaged 4 degrees cooler than normal. Iowa City received 0.10 inches of rainfall, or 1.02 inches below normal for the week.