Above normal precipitation across much of Iowa limited fieldwork to 4.3 days suitable for the week ending August 14, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included cutting hay and fungicide and insecticide applications. Spraying activities were wrapping up in some areas.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in west central Iowa rated 5 percent short, 89 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Ratings in WC Iowa were 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.
Eighty percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, five days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the 5-year average. Twenty-three percent of Iowa’s corn crop reached the dent stage, three days ahead of normal. Corn condition rated 83 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans blooming reached 97 percent, eight days ahead of the previous year. Eighty-seven percent of soybeans were setting pods, with a few scattered reports of soybeans starting to turn color. Soybean condition rated 83 percent good to excellent, although there were scattered reports of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) across the state.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay is 52 percent complete (64 percent in WC Iowa), four days ahead of average. Hay condition rated 73 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 62 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as normal.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship – Dry weather prevailed across the state through Wednesday morning, Aug. 10. Thunderstorms began developing Wednesday afternoon and continued increasing in coverage Wednesday night into Thursday. The heaviest rains came Thursday night into Friday morning when rain totals of three to five inches were common over large areas of central and east central Iowa, as well as over the far southwest corner of the state.
Most of the weekend was dry except some isolated showers and thunderstorms in central Iowa Saturday night, Aug. 13.
Weekly rain totals varied from 0.62 inches at Dorchester in far northeast Iowa to 7.14 inches at Swisher in Johnson County. There was a statewide average of 2.20 inches of rain, or more than double the normal for the week of 0.98 inches.
The past reporting week began mild with daytime highs mostly near 80 degrees on Monday, Aug. 8, while Estherville reported the lowest temperature of the week with a Monday morning low of 52 degrees.
However, heat and humidity quickly returned on Tuesday with the hottest weather prevailing on Wednesday and Thursday. Heat indices peaked at 110 degrees at Shenandoah on Wednesday and 113 at Mount Pleasant on Thursday. Actual air temperatures maxed out at 96 degrees at Sioux City on Wednesday and 97 at Lamoni on Thursday.
Seasonal temperatures and humidity returned for the weekend. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 2.5 degrees above normal.
