Spotty precipitation did not slow activities down significantly as Iowa’s farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 26, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included spraying for army worms in forages as well as harvesting hay, soybeans and corn.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 12 percent very short, 34 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 19 percent very short, 31 percent short, and 50 percent adequate.
Subsoil moisture levels across Iowa rated 17 percent very short, 39 percent short, and 44 percent adequate. Ratings in west centra Iowa were 27 percent very short, 45 percent short, and 28 percent adequate.
Row crop harvest has begun across the state. Corn in or beyond the dent stage reached 97 percent, four days ahead of the 5-year average. Almost three-quarters of the corn crop has reached maturity, also four days ahead of normal. Corn harvest for grain reached 9 percent statewide, again, four days ahead of the 5-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 23 percent. Iowa’s corn condition rated 59 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 95 percent, five days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 77 percent, four days ahead of normal. Soybeans harvested reached 18 percent, also four days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 62 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 30 percent good to excellent. Low water levels in some creeks and ponds have been an issue for livestock on pasture.
Iowa preliminary weather summary provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – The last full week of September brought a mix of unseasonably cool and warm days to Iowa. Overall average temperatures were warmer east and near-normal to cooler west. The statewide average temperature was 61.1 degrees, 1.9 degrees warmer than normal. All of Iowa’s weather stations reported measurable precipitation, though rainfall deficits persisted with up to 0.50 inch reported at many central and southwestern gauges; above-average totals were observed in several pockets across Iowa.
Strong southerly winds and sunny skies lifted daytime highs in the upper 80s and low 90s on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, with a statewide average high at 88 degrees, 14 degrees above normal. Clouds increased through the nighttime hours as a strong cold front entered northwestern Iowa during the early morning hours of Monday.
An initial line of showers formed and proceeded into central Iowa before dissipating as it moved into a drier atmosphere. With higher humidity and afternoon highs in the mid-80s in front of the boundary, a secondary line of thunderstorms fired in west-central Iowa and pushed across the state. Some of the thunderstorms became severe with several occurrences of straight-line winds producing tree damage. As the line filled in, widespread rain was reported at a majority of Iowa’s stations with general totals above 0.30 inch. Almost 60 stations measured more than an inch with several stations in Des Moines County reporting over 2.00 inches; a gauge in Burlington observed 3.00 inches.
Clouds quickly cleared through the late evening hours and cooler air filtered in behind the front along with northerly winds. Overnight lows on Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, ranged from the low 40s northwest to upper 50s southeast. Pleasant conditions persisted through the day with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s under mostly sunny skies. Chilly temperatures were observed overnight with mid to upper 30s in western Iowa where starry skies were present before sunrise; slightly warmer conditions blanketed eastern Iowa with light northerly winds.
Wednesday continued the comfortable conditions with variable winds and highs hovering in the upper 60s and low 70s. Temperatures cooled into the upper 30s and 40s over much of the state with clear skies and a light, variable wind. Thursday, Sept. 23, was a sunny and breezy day with winds shifting to a southerly direction as a high pressure center pushed into Iowa. Afternoon conditions were ideal with highs in the low to mid 70s and low relative humidity. Clear skies continued into Friday morning with upper 40s and low 50s blanketing the state. Clouds began building up in northwestern Iowa during the late morning hours as a cold front approached Iowa. Light rain showers formed along the front as it raced west to east, clearing eastern Iowa late in the evening. While the rain was widespread, totals were at or below 0.30 inch with a majority of stations reporting accumulations below 0.10 inch; Fort Dodge (Webster County) observed 0.24 inch while Lamoni (Decatur County) measured 0.30 inch. With colder air pushing in behind the front, freezing temperatures were reported for the first time this fall as lows dipped into the 30s west to mid-40s east; the statewide average low was 40 degrees, eight degrees below average.
Brilliant sunshine and westerly winds were observed on Saturday, Sept. 25, as Iowa experienced near-seasonal temperatures. Winds shifted to a southerly direction overnight into Sunday (26th) with temperatures remaining in the 50s. Weekly rain totals ranged from 0.01 inch at Bedford (Taylor County) to 3.04 inches in Burlington. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.53 inch while the normal is 0.82 inch. Muscatine (Muscatine County) observed the week’s high temperature of 94 degrees on the Sept. 19, 18 degrees above normal. Atlantic (Cass County), Audubon (Audubon County) and Guthrie Center (Guthrie County) reported the week’s low temperature of 32 degrees on Sept. 25, on average 14 degrees below normal.
