Sunny and warm temperatures early in the week spurred growth and fieldwork progress in Iowa, however fieldwork slowed due to wet conditions during the latter part of the week ending June 14, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were only 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork, and in west central Iowa it was even less, 2.9 days. Activities for the week included planting, cutting and baling hay, and spraying. Although some spraying was done early in the week, weeds remain a concern throughout the State as crop emergence continues and farmers are unable to get into their fields to spray.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 2 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 2 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. South central Iowa is the only area of the state reporting no topsoil rated very short or short on moisture.
Ninety-eight percent of the corn crop has emerged, six days behind last year, but four days ahead of the 5-year average. Eighty-four percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.
Soybean planting reached 93 percent complete (96 percent in west central Iowa), two weeks behind 2014, but equal to the average. Saturated soil conditions in southwest and south central Iowa continued to delay planting, with only 72 and 75 percent of their soybean crop in the ground, respectively. Soybean emergence reached 83 percent (87 percent), two days behind normal. Soybean condition rated 80 percent good to excellent this week.
The first cutting of alfalfa hay reached 66 percent complete this week. Hay conditions rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were described as good due to mild temperatures, but reports out of western Iowa indicate insect stress on cattle is increasing. Cattle lots remain muddy throughout Iowa.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship: The past reporting week began with a few scattered showers and thunderstorms late Sunday, June 7, over parts of far southern and eastern Iowa. Dry weather prevailed over most of the state on Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9, while thunderstorms brought locally heavy rain to the southern one-third of Iowa on Wednesday afternoon and evening with light to moderate rain falling over the northwest one-quarter of the state. Showers and thunderstorms brought rain to all of Iowa on Thursday, June 11, with locally heavy rain over parts of southwest and east central Iowa. Friday and Saturday brought more rain to east central and southeast Iowa.
Additional rain fell on Sunday and Sunday night, June 14, over the southern two-thirds of the state with some locally heavy rains over portions of southwest and central Iowa. Some of the Sunday rainfall would have fallen too late to be reflected fully in the crop condition reports.
Weekly rain totals were generally lowest across northwestern Iowa with a report just south of Lake Park in Dickinson County of 0.43 inches. However, very heavy rain fell in other areas, particularly in southwest and east central sections. The largest reported total came from north of New Market in Taylor County of 6.07 inches. Other hefty totals included 5.98 inches in Davenport, 5.37 inches near Amana and 4.76 inches at Sidney. The statewide average precipitation total was 1.91 inches while normal for the week is 1.19 inches. This was the highest weekly average in 39 weeks (second week of September 2014). A few of the thunderstorms over the southern one-third of Iowa were accompanied by large hail and/or high winds on Sunday (June 7), Wednesday and Thursday.
Temperatures were well above normal for most of the week with daytime highs in the 90s nearly everywhere on Tuesday with a highest reading of 99 degrees at Sioux City. Hot weather continued on Wednesday, along with more humidity, with 97 degree maximums at Clarinda, Red Oak and Shenandoah. However, persistent cloud cover and rainfall held daytime highs in the 60s over many northern and western areas on Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 3.2 degrees above normal (72.4 degrees, weekly normal of 69.2), making this the warmest week since the last week of August 2014.
