Rain and cool temperatures early in the week ending April 20 continued to slow fieldwork according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Average temperatures were below normal for the week, but at the end of the week temperatures started to rise. Statewide there were 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork. In west central Iowa, there were 3.9 days suitable. Activities for the week included applying fertilizer, anhydrous and herbicides, seeding and disking.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 6 percent very short, 22 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. In west central Iowa, topsoil moisture rated 7 percent very short, 21 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Those figures are improved over the week ending April 13, when 52 percent of the topsoil was rated adequate.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide for the week ending April 20 rated 16 percent very short, 39 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. In west central Iowa, the ratings were 22 percent very short, 43 percent short, 32 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.
Across the state, rain totals ranged from .07 inches at Rock Rapids to 4.87 inches at Pella. The statewide average precipitation was 1.52 inches, nearly double the weekly normal of .85 inches. The week ending April 20 was the wettest week in Iowa since late June. Unofficially, 1.65 inches of rain in Jefferson Sunday, April 13.
Temperature ranged from a Tuesday morning low of 12 degrees at Sheldon and Sibley to a Saturday afternoon (April 19) high of 82 degrees at Little Sioux. In Jefferson, temperatures ranged unofficially from a low of 25 degrees April 15 to a high of 85 degrees April 20. Temperatures across Iowa for the week as a whole averaged 6.2 degrees below normal. Soil temperatures at the four inch depth warmed due to warmer weather over the weekend and averaged in the 50s statewide by Sunday afternoon, April 20.
