Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“In between spotty thunderstorms last week, farmers took advantage of the opportunity to begin applying crop protection products, adding side-dress fertilizer, and cutting and baling hay,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Widespread rain totals were below average and much of the state remains abnormally dry, but forecasts do indicate chances for precipitation and a return to more seasonal temperatures.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.
Crop Report
Isolated rain showers during the week led to 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 4, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were still planting some corn and soybeans this week, however nearly all planting activities are finished. There were limited reports of crop replanting in certain fields. Other field activities included cutting hay and spraying emerging crops.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 13 percent very short, 42 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 41 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Corn emergence reached 94 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn condition declined 5 percentage points to 72 percent good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, 10 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of normal. Eighty-seven percent of soybeans have emerged, 10 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the average. Soybean condition rated 70 percent good to excellent. Thirty-eight percent of the oat crop has headed, 8 days ahead of last year and the average. Oat condition declined to 70 percent good to excellent.
Seventy-eight percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 12 days ahead of the 5-year average. Hay condition fell 6 percentage points to 52 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition dropped to 42 percent good to excellent. Some livestock producers have already had to feed hay due to drying pastures.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
A large-scale high-pressure system over Canada produced anomalous southeasterly to easterly flow across Iowa towards the end of the reporting period. Widely scattered pop-up thunderstorms also formed over portions of Iowa on several days, though rainfall was below average. Unseasonably warm conditions continued with positive departures of up to 12 degrees in northwest Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 73.7 degrees, 8.3 degrees above normal.
Source: iowaagriculture.gov
Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic
Categories: Iowa, Crops, Government & Policy, Weather