Precipitation early in the week slowed fieldwork across Iowa during the week ending Sept. 7, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. West central Iowa farmers were out of their fields more than the state average, as they had 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork while the state average was 3.7 days. Average temperatures for the week were above normal aiding crop development. Disease concerns were reported in both corn and soybeans across parts of the state.
Recent precipitation increased soil moisture. Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 7 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture in west central Iowa rated 1 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. The ratings in west central Iowa were 4 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.
Almost all of Iowa’s corn crop was in the dough stage or beyond, and 72 percent (84 percent in WC Iowa) had reached the dent stage, one week ahead of the previous year but three days behind the five-year average. Six percent (9 percent in WC Iowa) of the corn acreage was mature, slightly ahead of last year but almost two weeks behind normal. Unchanged from last week, 76 percent of the corn acreage was reported in good to excellent condition.
With almost the entire soybean crop setting pods or beyond, 26 percent (22 percent in WC Iowa) of soybean leaves were turning color, five days ahead of the previous year but four days behind average. Seventy-three percent of the soybean acreage was in good to excellent condition, equal to the previous week.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 64 percent complete, almost two weeks behind both last year and the five-year average.
Preliminary weather summary, state climatolotist Harry Hillaker, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship: The reporting week began with warm and humid weather. Thunderstorms brought rain statewide from Sunday afternoon (Aug. 31) into Monday morning (Sept. 1). High winds, with some hail, were reported from 25 counties Sunday night with greatest damage across west central Iowa. Volunteer weather observer John Beltz reported 1.05 inches of rain in that storm. See related post here:
The week’s warmest weather came on Thursday (Sept. 5) with highs in the 90s in some areas. Beltz reported a high of 89 degrees, although the apparent heat index was much higher.
Weekly rain totals varied from only 0.06 inches at Rock Rapids, Donnellson and Fort Madison to a hefty 6.37 inch total in west central Crawford County between Denison and Charter Oak. Beltz reported Jefferson received a total of 1.52 inches for the week that ended Friday at 7 am. The statewide average precipitation was 1.35 inches while normal for the week is 0.84 inches.
Temperature extremes varied from Thursday afternoon highs of 94 degrees at Donnellson, Glenwood, Shenandoah and Sidney down to a Saturday morning (Sept. 6) low of 40 degrees at Sheldon. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged from two degrees above normal over the southeast and just below normal over the far northwest with a statewide average of 1.3 degrees above normal.
