Cool temperatures and persistent wet conditions hindered fieldwork in Iowa during the week ending May 31, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were only 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Operators reported standing water in some fields and the need to replant in areas of some fields. Producers are still concerned about muddy feedlots and limited spraying due to wet fields.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 2 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 3 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Southwest and south central Iowa both reported 50 percent surplus topsoil moisture levels.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 6 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 3 percent short, 86 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. South central Iowa reported over one-third surplus subsoil moisture levels.
Ninety-seven percent of the corn crop has been planted, behind last year’s progress for the first time this season. Corn emerged reached 90 percent (92 percent in west central Iow), just two days ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Eighty percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.
Soybean planting reached 78 (76 percent in west central Iowa) percent complete, one week behind 2014, and four days behind average. Southwest and south central Iowa continued to lag behind in the planting of their expected soybean acreage with only 37 and 50 percent of their soybean crop in the ground, respectively. Soybean emergence reached 53 percent, slightly behind last year and normal.
Oat emergence is nearly complete, while oats headed reached 8 percent this week, almost one week behind the 5-year average. Oat condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.
Frequent rains continued to slow progress on the first cutting of alfalfa hay with just 18 percent complete (10 percent in west central Iowa). Hay conditions rated 82 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 76 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were described as good with cool temperatures and no heat stress.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
The past reporting week began with frequent widespread rainfall and warmer than normal weather from Sunday, May 24, through Tuesday. Wednesday was dry while rain was concentrated over southern Iowa on Thursday with daytime high temperatures mostly in the low 80s both days. Friday, May 29, was another relatively warm day, but with widespread light to moderate rain with greatest rain amounts over the north. Much colder weather prevailed over the weekend with light rain scattered over the southeast on Saturday, May 30, while Sunday was dry.
Temperature extremes varied from Wednesday afternoon highs of 86 degrees at Spencer, Okoboji Lake and Emmetsburg, while Elkader reported a low of 40 degrees on Sunday morning. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 0.5 degrees above normal for the statewide average with readings averaging just below normal over the western one-third of the state to a degree or two above normal over the east.
Rainfall totals varied from only 0.19 inches at Holstein to 4.68 inches just east of Denison, where a narrow band of thunderstorms dumped heavy rain on Monday night. The statewide average precipitation was 1.10 inches, or just slightly above the weekly normal of 1.07 inches.
