Warmer and drier weather allowed Iowa farmers 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Oct. 2, according the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. While harvest was starting to gain momentum there were many reports of muddy conditions and standing water in some fields. Fieldwork activities for the week included cutting hay, harvesting corn and soybeans, and fall tillage.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture in west central Iowa rated 88 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Levels in west central Iowa were 4 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.
Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop was mature or beyond, two days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the five-year average. Ten percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, one day behind last year and nine days behind average. Corn condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.
Ninety-six percent of soybeans were turning color or beyond, equal to both last year and the average. Eighty-five percent of soybeans were dropping leaves or beyond, four days ahead of average. Twenty-one percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, one day behind last year’s pace. Soybean condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay is almost complete at 98 percent. Pasture condition rated 64 percent good to excellent. Livestock were reported to be in good condition except for areas with flooded pastures.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship – The past week was the driest in Iowa in seven months with a statewide average of only 0.01 inches compared to a weekly normal of 0.71 inches.
Most of the western two-thirds of the state saw no measurable rain while the largest amount reported was just 0.15 inches which fell south of Goose Lake in Clinton County. The bulk of what little rain fell occurred on Friday into Saturday.
Temperatures were mostly near to slightly above normal. Temperature extremes varied from morning lows of 38 degrees at the Spencer airport and Sheldon on Thursday morning, Sept. 29, and again at the Spencer airport on Friday morning to highs of 78 degrees at Shenandoah, Lamoni and Bedford on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 27, and at Hampton and Pocahontas on Sunday, Oct. 2. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 1.9 degrees above normal.
