Despite spotty precipitation, Iowa’s farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 22, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting hay and oats. Producers were utilizing the release of CRP land for haying and grazing.
Topsoil moisture levels across Iowa rated 24 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 36 percent adequate. Ratings in west central Iowa were 28 percent very short, 37 percent short, and 35 percent adequate.
Subsoil moisture levels statewide rated 27 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 31 percent adequate. Northwest, central and east central Iowa had the lowest subsoil moisture levels in the state, with more than 80 percent rated short to very short. Ratings in west central Iowa were 30 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 28 percent adequate.
Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 90 percent, six days ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond, four days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of corn reaching the mature stage. Some producers have begun chopping silage. Iowa’s corn condition rated 58 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans setting pods reached 95 percent, eight days ahead of normal. Five percent of soybeans were coloring. There were a few reports of soybeans dropping leaves. Soybean condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent. Sudden death syndrome was observed in some soybean fields across the state.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 68 percent complete, three days ahead of the 5-year average. Both mites and army worms have been spotted in alfalfa and grass hay crops. Pasture condition was rated 31 percent good to excellent. Water for cows and calves on pasture has become an issue as some creeks and ponds dry up.
Weather Summary provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – Above-average temperatures were observed across most of Iowa during the reporting period with a cool down from a cold frontal passage late in the week. The statewide average temperature was 72.7 degrees, 0.7 degrees warmer than normal. Though most of the week was dry, a large-scale weather system brought widespread rainfall across Iowa with above-normal totals approaching 2 inches in drought-stricken northern Iowa; much of southern Iowa reported only a few tenths of an inch of rainfall.
Sunshine and southeasterly winds led to pleasant conditions on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 15. Partly cloudy skies remained overnight into Monday morning as a dome of high pressure dominated the weather pattern over the Midwest, lending to quiet conditions. Afternoon temperatures ranged from the low to mid 80s west to upper 70s east.
Starry skies and a light southerly wind held temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s into Tuesday, Aug. 17, with some clouds streaming into central Iowa. Daytime temperatures were on the rise with increasing southerly winds and humidity; mid to upper 80s were observed in western Iowa while eastern Iowa reported temperatures three to five degrees cooler. Hazy skies were observed into Wednesday as wildfire smoke filtered into the region. Daytime highs rose into the 80s with a few 90 degree readings under partly cloudy skies. Morning lows reported at 7 am on Thursday were unseasonably warm, generally in the mid to upper 60s, up to nine degrees warmer than normal. Dew point temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s combined with afternoon highs in the upper 80s led to very muggy conditions into the evening hours.
Light showers formed in western Iowa early on Friday, Aug. 20, before dissipating during the late morning hours. Southwesterly winds picked up through the afternoon as a cold front approached the state front from the west. Muggy conditions continued, which helped fire stronger thunderstorms in northwestern Iowa as the boundary entered the state. Some storms turned severe with a brief tornado reported near Sibley (Osceola County), causing some damage to trees and outbuildings. As the front swept across the state, measurable rainfall was observed at a majority of stations with general totals of a few tenths of inch over the state’s northern half. Numerous stations in north central Iowa reported more than 0.50 inch with nearly 30 stations measuring an inch or more. Pocahontas (Pocahontas County) reported 2.15 inches while Webster City (Hamilton County) observed 2.92 inches.
Behind the front, cooler and more pleasant conditions were experienced on Saturday, with sunny skies and a light northerly wind. Temperatures remained in the mid-70s to low 80s during the daytime hours and dropped into the 50s overnight into Sunday morning.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at several southern Iowa stations to 3.26 inches at Webster City (Hamilton County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.57 inch while the normal is 0.95 inch. Multiple stations observed the week’s high temperature of 92 degrees on Aug. 20, on average nine degrees warmer than normal. Elkader (Clayton County) reported the week’s low temperature of 46 degrees on Aug. 16, 12 degrees cooler than normal.
