Frequent precipitation hindered field work last week across Iowa, but above average temperatures aided crop development according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers in west central Iowa had only 1.7 days suitable for field work, while the state average was 2.3 days.
The rain increased soil moisture. Topsoil moisture levels statewide rate 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. In west central Iowa ratings were 1 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus. East central Iowa was the driest, with one-quarter of its topsoil moisture still very short or short.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide were 2 percent very short, 15 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. In west central Iowa, subsoil moisture rated 5 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus.
More than 90 percent of Iowa’s corn crop was in the dough stage or beyond, 23 percentage points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of the five-year average. Also, 53 percent of the corn crop had reached the dent stage, eight days ahead of last year but still four days behind normal. In west central Iowa, 98 percent of the corn is in or past dough stage and 66 percent is in or past dent stage. Statewide, 76 percent of the corn acreage was reported in good to excellent condition as of Sunday, Aug. 31.
The soybean crop is progressing, with 96 percent setting pods or beyond, one week ahead of last year but still slightly behind average. In west central Iowa, 100 percent of the crop was reported as setting pods. Soybean leaves have begun turning color, with 8 percent statewide (5 percentage points ahead of last year but 10 points behind normal) and 5 percent in west central Iowa. Seventy-three percent of the soybean crop was reported in good to excellent condition.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 53 percent complete, 22 points below last year and 23 points behind the five-year average.
Preliminary weather report, IDALS state climatologist Harry Hillaker: Showers and thunderstorms were nearly a daily occurrence across much of Iowa during the week that ended Aug. 31. Rain totals were above normal over all but small portions of the far northwest and east central Iowa.
Weekly rain totals varied from 0.34 inch at Lowden and 0.35 inch at Rock Rapids up to 7.55 inches at Persia in Harrison County. (Persia was the dry spot for the state the previous week.) Volunteer weather observer John Beltz reported that for the week ending Aug. 29 at 7 am, rainfall totaled 2.33 inches. His Aug. 25 reading was the only reading to show no rain.
The statewide average precipitation was 2.18 inches, more than double the weekly normal of 0.91 inch.
Warm and humid air predominated. Temperature extremes ranged from a morning low of 53 degrees at Sibley Tuesday (Aug. 26) to an afternoon high of 95 degrees at Donnellson Monday afternoon (Aug. 25). Beltz reported a high of 89 degrees on Aug. 25 and a low of 61 degrees on Aug. 27.
Temperatures across Iowa for the week as a whole averaged near normal in far northwest Iowa to five degrees above normal across the southeast. The statewide average temperature was 3.1 degrees above normal. Burlington and Cedar Rapids reached 90 degrees for the first time this year on Aug. 24.
