Below average precipitation across much of Iowa caused a drop in soil moisture, particularly in the northeastern part of the state during the week ending Aug. 17, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Statewide, topsoil moisture levels rated 8 percent very short, 23 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. West central Iowa is faring better, with topsoil moisture levels at 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide were rated as 6 percent very short, 22 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Northeast Iowa is the driest with 63 percent of topsoil dry or very dry.
Three-quarters of the state’s corn crop was in the dough stage or beyond, 16 days ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the five-year average. Sixteen percent of the corn crop was in the dent stage, 10 days ahead of the previous year but four days behind normal. In west central Iowa, 79 percent of the crop was in or past the dough stage and 21 percent was in or past the dent stage. Three-quarters of the Iowa corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition.
The soybean crop is also ahead of last year, with 88 percent setting pods or beyond, 20 percentage points ahead of last year and two points ahead of average. Ninety-seven percent of the soybeans in west central Iowa have set pods. Soybean condition was rated 73 percent good to excellent.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 95 percent complete and the third cutting was 36 percent complete, one day ahead of last year but still a week behind the normal pace.
Preliminary weather summary by IDALS state climatologist Harry Hillaker: It was another unseasonably cool week across Iowa with temperatures below normal in most areas throughout the week. Temperatures ranged from a morning low of 47 degrees on Wednesday (Aug. 13) at Stanley in Buchanan County to an afternoon high of 86 degrees Saturday in Rock Rapids. Temperatures for the week as a whole average from two to three degrees below normal over the northwest to five to six degrees subnormal over the southwest.
In Jefferson, volunteer weather observer John Beltz reported a low temperature of 53 degrees on Aug. 12, Aug. 13 and Aug. 14. He reported a high temperature of 80 degrees on Aug. 15. He reported only 0.01 inch of precipitation, with that in the 24 hours preceding 7 am Friday, Aug. 15. Next week’s report will give a rainfall total for Friday.
Dry weather continues over the northeast one-third of Iowa, where some locations have not had substantial rain since late June. Localized heavy rain fell over parts of the southwest one-half of the state on Sunday (Aug. 10). However, the bulk of the rain for the week fell on Friday (Aug. 15) over southwest and south central Iowa, where Murray in Clarke County reported 5.03 inches. The statewide average precipitation was 0.69 inches; normal for the week is 0.98 inches.
