The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on April 6 released the first Iowa crop and condition report of the 2020 growing season. NASS releases the report weekly from April through November.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig included COVID-19 when he commented on the report. “Across Iowa, farmers and agribusiness are starting spring field work and planting season will soon be underway. We encourage farmers to have a back-up plan and identify someone who can help with planting in case you get sick,” Naig said. “Farmers should also be mindful about who they allow to ride along in the buddy seat. Social distancing guidelines apply to the tractor, too.”
Crop report – Fields remained wet across most of Iowa during the week ending April 5, according to the USDA, NASS. Statewide there were 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Wet conditions slowed field work activities; However, there were reports of producers applying anhydrous, spreading manure and planting oats.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 91 percent adequate and 9 percent suprlus In west central Iowa. Ratings across Iowa were 1 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels in west central Iowa rated 85 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. Levels statewide rated 1 percent short, 77 adequate and 22 percent surplus.
Pastures and hay have started to green. Livestock conditions were generally good with calving going well for most cattle operations.
Preliminary weather summary by Justin Glisan, Ph.D, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – Unseasonably dry conditions dominated Iowa during the reporting period. Only sections of south central Iowa reported above average amounts of precipitation. Deficits across much of the state were between 0.20-0.60 inch. Temperatures were near normal statewide with an average temperature of 43 degrees, .10 degrees below normal.
A strong low pressure system moving through the upper Midwest brought windy conditions most of Sunday, March 29. Winds remained brisk out of the northwest with clouds clearing as a weak high pressure system moved into southwest Iowa. Daytime highes reached into the upper 50s in the southwest to upper 30s northwest. With high pressure dominating the region, winds calmed under clear skies into Monday morning. Temperatures during the day were well above normal with western Iowa reporting mid to upper 60s, eight to 12 degrees warmer than normal. Warm and partly cloudy conditions continued into Tuesday, March 31, with light and variable winds. Daytime highs were held to the mid 40s and low 50s along the Iowa-Illinois border, where cloud cover was present. Clear skies helped push highs into the mid 60s in southwestern Iowa.
The pattern began to shift during the late night hours through Wednesday, April 1, as showers and a few thundershowers formed across northwestern Iowa. The complex moved through central and eastern Iowa before dissipating in the early afternoon hours. Strong southerly winds and clearing skies allowed highs to reach into the low 0s in southwest Iowa, while temperatures remained in the 50s in eastern Iowa; in between, stations reported 60s and sunny conditions.
Overnight temperatures into Thursday remained unseasonably warm with the average low of 37 degrees, four degrees warmer than normal. Gusty southerly winds continued through the day as a warm front lifted north across Iowa. An area of showers formed across south central Iowa in the afternoon and moved northeast in advance of a cold front across western Iowa. Two-day rain totals were generally less than 0.20 inch, although Ottumwa Industrial Airport (Wapello County) and Lamoni Municipal Airport (Decatur County) reported totals of 0.71 inch and 0.48 inch, respectively. Statewide high temperatures remained in the upper 50s and low 60s.
Winter weather returned on Friday, April 3, as another low pushed through Iowa. Northwest Iowa reported light snow and freezing rain with a transition across central Iowa. Southeastern Iowa reported all rainfall, as it was on the warmer side of the system. Measurable precipitation fell across most of Iowa with the highest totals in south central Iowa. Generally amounts were less than 0.75 inch with Columbia (Marion County) reporting 0.80 inch. Snow totals ranged from a trace amount at multiple northwestern stations to 1.0 inch in Forest City (Winnebago County).
High pressure moved in behind the low, allowing skies to clear through Saturday afternoon. Highs reached into the upper 40s and low 50s, leading to a pleasant day across Iowa. Morning lows on Sunday, April 5, were in the upper 20s and low 30s. Cloud cover in southeast Iowa held temperatures in the low 40s.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from trace amounts at multiple stations to 1.33 inches at Lamoni Municipal Airport. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.25 inch while the normal is 0.65 inch.
Red Oak (Montgomery County) reported the week’s high temperature of 76 degrees on April 1. That reading was 18 degrees warmer than average. Estherville Municipal Airport (Emmet County) reported the week’s low temperature of 13 degrees on April 4, which is 18 degrees colder than normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low to mid 40s as of Sunday.
