The Aug. 6 rainfall across much of Iowa was welcome by farmers as a couple of dry weeks had already begun depleting soil moisture.
According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, for a reporting period ending Sunday, Aug. 3, statewide topsoil moisture levels had fallen significantly to 3 percent very short (1), 23 percent short (12), 70 percent adequate (81), and 4 percent surplus (6), with last week’s figures in parentheses. Subsoil moisture levels also fell, with statewide ratings at 2 percent very short (1), 16 percent short (9), 78 percent adequate (84), and 4 percent surplus (6).
Soil in west central Iowa was drier. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent very short, 30 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 4 percent very short, 22 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 2 percent short.
Corn remains ahead of the state average and ahead of normal. Across the state, 93 percent of the corn acreage was at or beyond the silking stage, two weeks ahead of last year and five days ahead of the five-year average. Ninety-eight percent of west central acreage was at or beyond silking, with 44 percent (36 percent statewide) in or past the dough stage. That’s double the normal amount in early August. Seventy-seven percent of the corn crop statewide was reported in good or excellent condition.
Statewide, 91 percent of the soybean crop was blooming or beyond (95 percent in west central Iowa), 14 percentage points ahead of last year but only barely ahead of average. Sixty-two percent was setting pods (71 percent in west central Iowa), well ahead of last year. Statewide, 74 percent of the soybean crop was reported to be in good or excellent condition.
West central farmers are ahead in the state with the second cutting of alfalfa hay at 95 percent complete, compared to 85 percent statewide.
Preliminary weather summary by IDALS state climatologist Harry Hillaker: Unseasonably cool and mostly dry weather prevailed across Iowa. Temperatures were below normal with the coolest readings Monday and Tuesday (July 28-29), when highs were mostly in the 70s. Low temperature for the week was a morning low of 46 degrees at Sheldon on Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperature was 87 degrees reported Saturday (Aug. 2) at Cresco, Des Moines, Osceola and Rapids.
Volunteer weather observer John Beltz reported a high temperature in Jefferson of 83 degrees on July 27 and a low of 53 degrees on July 30, July 31 and Aug. 1.
Temperatures in Iowa as a whole averaged 5.3 degrees below normal, Hillaker reported.
Most of the northeast two-thirds of Iowa received no rain of consequence during the week. Beltz reported 0.01 inch of rain on July 29. Rain amounts of more than an inch were common in the 17 of the 18 southwest counties in the state. Randolph in Fremont County received 1.98 inches of rain. Statewide average rainfall was 0.12 inches, while normal for the week is 0.94 inches.
