Corn and soybean progress in Iowa remained ahead of normal for the week ending June 8, according to the USA, National Agriculture Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Producers in west central Iowa had only 2.7 days suitable.
Soil moisture levels improved across the state. Topsoil moisture statewide was rated at 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. In west central Iowa, topsoil moisture was rated at 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide were 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. In west central Iowa, subsoil moisture is rated as 5 percent very short, 33 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Southwest and south central Iowa were the wettest areas in Iowa according to the NASS, with more than 30 percent of topsoil with surplus moisture.
Statewide, 98 percent of the corn has emerged, 18 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. All corn in west central Iowa has emerged. Soybean planting is completed in west central Iowa and 93 percent has emerged. Statewide, 87 percent of the crop has emerged, three weeks ahead of last year and just more than a week ahead of normal.
Crop conditions are rated as follows: corn – 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 64 percent good and 18 percent excellent; and soybeans – 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 64 percent good and 17 percent excellent.
Preliminary weather summary: IDALS state climatologist Harry Hillaker referred to the week ending June 6 as “a very active week of weather across Iowa.” A storm Sunday (June 1) brought heavy rain along with high winds to northwest and far western Iowa, with Chrokee reporting 4.11 inches of rain. On Tuesday, part of southwestern Iowa had a damaging combination of large hail and high winds. Parts of northwest Iowa received hail on Thursday. Very heavy rain fell in southwestern and south central Iowa. The Lamoni airport reported 5.65 inches of rain. Rain fell again Saturday in the southeast two-thirds of the state. Overall, the weekly rainfall totals ranged from 0.43 inches in Cedar Falls to 7.3 inches in Red Oak. The statewide average was 2.33 inches of rain, double the weekly normal of 1.17 inches. It was the highest weekly average since May 2013.
Volunteer weather observer John Beltz reported a total of 1.36 inches of rain for the week ending Friday, June 6, at 6 am. Beltz reported 1.18 inches of rain on Tuesday. He reported a high temperature of 89 degrees on June 2 and a low temperature of 57 degrees on June 3 and June 4.
The statewide temperature range was an afternoon high of 92 degrees at Little Sioux on June 1 to a morning low of 45 degrees on June 8 in Spencer. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 2.7 degrees above normal.
