Although some fieldwork was done early in the week, as the week progressed rains halted planting across much of Iowa for the week ending May 1, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were only 2.0 days suitable for fieldwork; there were only 1.4 days suitable in west central Iowa. Cool and wet weather slowed crop emergence, and many reports indicate tile lines have been running steady.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Levels in west central Iowa were 65 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. The western third of Iowa reported 20 percent or more with surplus subsoil moisture. Ratings in west central Iowa were 1 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus.
Statewide, just 17 percent of the corn crop was planted during the past week. But with 57 percent of the crop planted, progress remained one day ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the 5-year average. Farmers in north central and central Iowa have already planted over three-quarters of their corn crop. Planting in west central Iowa is lagging at 46 percent, behind only northwest Iowa t 36 percent.
Seven percent of the soybean acreage has been planted (but just 2 percent in west central Iowa), five days ahead of the 5-year average. Ninety-six percent of the state’s oat crop has been planted, two days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of normal. Oats emerged reached 68 percent, four days ahead of the previous year and eight days ahead of the average.
The first hay condition rating of the season was 1 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Pasture condition rated 65 percent good to excellent, while some reports indicated low-lying pastures were saturated with some flooding. Livestock conditions were reported as tough with windy, wet, and cool weather leaving feedlots saturated.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship – The past week brought more than twice as much rain as any other week thus far in 2016. A statewide average of 2.24 inches of rain fell compared to the weekly normal of 0.97 inches. Rain totals varied from 0.74 inches at Marquette to 4.99 inches at Alta.
Monday, April 25, and Friday, April 29, were mostly dry while rain was heaviest on Wednesday, April 27, and Saturday, April 30. As was the case the previous week, rains were heaviest over the west one-half of Iowa (2 to 4 inches common) and lowest over the east (mostly in the 1 to 2 inch range).
Monday was the warmest day with high temperatures ranging from the upper 50s northwest to lower 80s southeast. Temperatures on Tuesday were near seasonal with highs mostly in the 60s while unseasonably cool and cloudy weather prevailed for the remainder of the week.
Temperature extremes ranged from a Monday afternoon high of 85 degrees at Donnellson to morning lows of 36 degrees at Sheldon on Tuesday, Milford on Thursday and also Sibley and Northwood on Friday.
Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 3.8 degrees below normal. A narrow line of thunderstorms brought hail and high winds to northwest Iowa on Sunday evening, April 24, roughly between Sioux City and Estherville. Also, four short-lived tornadoes, plus some hail, occurred over southwest Iowa on Wednesday. These were the only dates in April with severe thunderstorms reported in Iowa.
Finally, soil temperatures at the four inch depth were averaging in the mid-40s northwest to just over 50 degrees over the far southeast.
