Reports of corn silking, soybeans setting pods, and oats being harvested for grain were received for the week ending July 12, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included cutting hay, cultivating and applying herbicides.
“In general, much of the crop remains in good to excellent condition across the state. Unfortunately, there are some wet spots and other crop damage from the wet weather seen in June,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. “Just a reminder that now is a good time for farmers to evaluate and consider any addition conservation practices needed on their farm. Funds are currently available for farmers interested using cover crops or other practices to protect water quality.”
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 3 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 3 percent short, 86 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 3 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 2 percent short, 89 percent adequate and 9 percent short. Reporters in north central and northwest Iowa expressed a need for additional precipitation.
Seventeen percent of the corn crop reached the silking stage, two days behind last year and three days behind the 5-year average. Eighty-two percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.
Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 40 percent, with some reports of soybeans setting pods. Soybean condition rated 78 percent good to excellent this week. Nearly all of the state’s oats were headed or beyond. Oat acreage turning color reached 69 percent, with 13 percent of the oat crop harvested, four days ahead of last year, but two days behind normal. Eighty-two percent of the oat crop rated good to excellent.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 40 percent, five days ahead of last year, but four days behind average. Hay condition was rated at 71 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Livestock stress levels increased as temperatures and humidity climbed late in the week.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship: Unseasonably cool weather prevailed until the weekend when much warmer and more humid air returned to the state.
Morning low temperatures dipped to 45 degrees at Spencer on Tuesday, July 7, and Elkader on Wednesday, July 8, while daytime highs only reached the low 60s over parts of southeast Iowa on Wednesday. High temperatures reached 91 degrees at Glenwood, Little Sioux, Shenandoah, and Sidney on Saturday, July 11, and 94 degrees at Spencer and Sioux City on Sunday, July 12.
Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 4.3 degrees below normal.
Rain fell statewide between Sunday night and Monday night, July 5-6, with greatest amounts near five inches in Muscatine and Scott counties. Dry weather prevailed over most of the state until Saturday when showers and thunderstorms dampened the southern one-half to two-thirds of Iowa. Greatest rains with this second event fell over south central Iowa where three to five inch totals fell over parts of Union, Clarke, Wayne, and Appanoose counties.
Weekly rain totals varied from only 0.04 inches at McGregor in northeast Iowa and at the opposite corner of the state with 0.05 inches at Randolph in Fremont County. Greatest rain totals included 5.53 inches at the Davenport Airport and 5.35 inches at Lake Rathbun Dam. The statewide average precipitation was 1.50 inches while normal for the week is 1.05 inches.
