Precipitation and temperatures were both below normal for the week across Iowa, according to the USDDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, but the corn and soybean crops are faring well. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork across the state, with 5.8 days in west central Iowa.
The condition of the state’s corn crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 63 percent good and 20 percent excellent. (The NASS does not break out crop condition by region in its weekly summary.)
The soybean crop is 41 percentage points ahead of last year in emergence at 95 percent. That’s 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 61 percent good and 18 percent excellent.
The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 73 percent complete, 74 percent complete in west central Iowa.
Soil moisture levels were changed only slightly from last week. Statewide, topsoil moisture levels were rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide were rated as 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 5 percent very short, 35 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.
Preliminary weather summary: IDALS state climatologist Harry Hillaker reported widely variable rainfall across the state, with no measurable rain across parts of central Iowa and 6.88 inches of rain in Rock Rapids in northwest Iowa. The statewide average was 0.67 inches of rain, compared to the 1.19 weekly normal for this time in June. Volunteer weather observer John Beltz reported that Jefferson received 0.42 inches of rain on June 8. That was the only precipitation for the week that ended June 13 at 6 am.
Temperatures across Iowa ranged from a high of 85 degrees at Clarion, Hampton and Little Sioux on Wednesday and on Saturday at Little Sioux, Oakland and Sidney. On Friday morning low temperatures were in the 40s over most of Iowa with Battle Creek and 38 and Sioux City at 39. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 4.1 degrees below normal.
Beltz reported a high temperature of 85 degrees on June 7 an a low temperature of 48 degrees on June 13.
