Fieldwork conditions improved across much of Iowa with only spotty rains during the week ending June 5, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork, with 5.7 days suitable in west central Iowa. Producers in the northern third of the state were still struggling with some wet spots in fields. Activities for the week included spraying, and side-dressing nitrogen.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 4 percent short, 86 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in west central Iowa rated 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 1 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus.
Ninety-seven percent of the corn crop has emerged, nine days ahead of normal. Eighty percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.
Soybean planting reached 94 percent complete, 11 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Soybean emergence reached 78 percent (72 percent in west central Iowa), six days ahead of last year.
The first soybean condition rating of the season came in at 2 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 69 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.
Mostly dry weather conditions allowed good progress on the first cutting of alfalfa hay with 60 percent complete, one week ahead of last year’s pace. Hay conditions rated 79 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 80 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were mostly reported to be excellent.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship: It was a warm week across Iowa with seasonal precipitation. Temperatures were above normal for most of the week although a few areas of northern Iowa slipped slightly cooler than normal on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Temperature extremes varied from morning lows of 45 degrees at Britt and Forest City Thursday, June 2, to an afternoon high of 90 degrees at Little Sioux Friday, June 3. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 3.1 degrees above normal.
Thunderstorms were widespread on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Heaviest rains mostly fell over north central and northeast Iowa while scattered areas of west central, central and south central Iowa saw less than one-quarter inch of rain for the week.
Rain totals varied from 0.11 inches at Jamaica in Guthrie County to 3.95 inches at New Hartford in Butler County. The statewide average precipitation was 0.99 inches, just slightly under the weekly normal of 1.13 inches.
