Iowa farmers had 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 19, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers in west central Iowa had less time in the field, with 4.6 days suitable. Activities for the week included harvesting hay and oats for grain, chopping corn silage, spraying for aphids, and moving grain.Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 11 percent very short, 19 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Topsoil levels in west central Iowa rated 3 percent very short, 15 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels across the state rated 10 percent very short, 19 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels in south central and southeast Iowa remain critical with 95 percent or more rated short to very short. In west central Iowa subsoil moisture levels rated 4 percent very short, 11 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.
Eighty-five percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, 9 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn dented was at 42 percent, 9 days ahead of last year. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.
Ninety-eight percent of the soybean crop was blooming with 93 percent setting pods, one week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the average. Soybean condition declined slightly to 70 percent good to excellent. Ninety-five percent of the oat crop has been harvested for grain.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 66 percent complete, five days behind the previous year but 8 days ahead of the average. Pasture conditions declined to 41 percent good to excellent. While some feedlots in northwest Iowa have been dealing with mud, dry conditions in southern Iowa have resulted in CRP being released for emergency grazing.
Iowa preliminary weather summary by Dr Justin Glisan, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – The week started warm and dry with average daytime highs up to six degrees above normal on Monday, Aug. 13. DeSoto (Harrison County) observed a high of 94 degrees, almost 10 degrees warmer than average.
A low pressure system spinning over eastern Kansas brought rainfall to Iowa’s southern half on Tuesday, with Des Moines (Polk County) recording 0.51 inches. A few stations from Lamoni (Decatur County) to Marshalltown (Marshall County) also recorded accumulating rain. Thundershowers lingered into Wednesday (15th) with isolated thunderstorms reforming in the afternoon across much of the state. Fifteen stations observed rainfall more than 1 inch, with Red Oak (Montgomery County) reporting 2.49 inches. These storms dissipated by nightfall.
Temperatures were above average during this period, with lower 90s in southern Iowa and upper 80s over the rest of the state.
Another convective system moved through on Thursday, Aug. 16, bringing thunderstorms to a significant portion of Iowa, especially north and east. Davenport (Scott County) observed 2.49 inches. With rainy conditions, temperatures ranged from near-normal to slightly warmer than average; highs were in the mid-80s in the southeast and lower 80s across the rest of Iowa.
A high pressure system brought nice weather on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17-18, with lingering thundershowers in eastern Iowa on Friday. After a dry Saturday, a large low pressure system moved into southwestern Iowa on Sunday, Aug. 19. As the low slowly moved north, significant accumulations were reported in Harrison, Shelby and Audubon counties. Much of Iowa recorded measurable rainfall with minor accumulation in the southeast quadrant, though weekly rainfall was below average across Iowa’s eastern two-thirds.
Weekend temperatures were seasonal across the western third and slightly warmer than average over the rest of Iowa, with highs ranging from the upper 70s in the northwest to upper 80s in the south.
