Iowa farmers were waiting for warmer weather and drier conditions as snow, ice and rain throughout the state prevented much fieldwork during the week ending April 14, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 1.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Southwest Iowa had the most days suitable for fieldwork at 4.1 days. Farmers in west central Iowa had 2.4 days suitable. Fieldwork activities remained mostly limited to applying anhydrous and spreading manure with very little planting done.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 55 percent adequate and 45 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 70 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 52 percent adequate and 48 percent surplus. In west central Iowa the ratings were 61 percent adequate and 39 percent surplus.
Sixteen percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, four days ahead of last year but a week behind the 5-year average. While one-quarter of the expected oats have been planted in northeast and west central Iowa, north central Iowa farmers have not yet begun planting oats.
Pastures continued to green up slowly with very little livestock placed on pasture ground. Overall, livestock and feedlot conditions have improved. However, in the northwest district there were reports that recent weather conditions stressed livestock and caused respiratory issues.
Iowa preliminary weather summary provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – Iowa’s northeastern half was wetter than normal while the southwestern half was unseasonably dry for the reporting period. Temperatures were a few degrees below average in northern Iowa with near to slightly above normal moving south.
The week started off warm with highs on Monday, April 8, reaching into the mid to upper 70s across much of Iowa; lower 80s were reported in southwestern Iowa. On Tuesday rain showers formed across a northwest to southeast swath of Iowa. More than 40 stations reported totals between 0.50 – 1.00 inch; Marshalltown (Marshall County) observed 1.04 inches.
Wednesday, April 10, began a stretch of active weather statewide. Showers and a few thunderstorms gradually moved through northeastern Iowa and out of the state late afternoon. As the day progressed, a strong Colorado low pressure moved towards Iowa bringing very windy conditions to the region. Isolated severe storms raced out of southwestern Iowa overnight into Thursday, with a few reports of hail and high winds. Much of Iowa’s northern three-quarters received measurable rainfall; two-day totals were highest in northwest Iowa with many stations reporting between 1.00 to 1.50 inches.
Cooler and continued windy conditions were reported on Friday as cold air moved into Iowa behind the exiting low. Daytime highs were 15-20 degrees cooler than average, generally in the upper 30s into the mid 40s. A relatively quiet pattern set up over the weekend. Highs on Saturday, April 13, varied from the 40s in the north to mid 50s across the state’s southern third. Overnight lows into Sunday were in the mid to upper 20s.
Red Oak (Montgomery County) and Shenandoah (Fremont County) observed the week’s high of 81 degrees on April 8. Little Sioux (Harrison County) reported a low of 18 degrees on April 14. Dubuque Lock and Dam (Dubuque County) reported the highest rainfall total of the week at 1.85 inches. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low to mid 40s north to south as of Sunday.
