Scattered rainfall and some hail combined with mild temperatures resulted in 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities included cutting hay and grass, and less wind allowed more chemical applications.
Topsoil moisture conditions rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.
Row crop planting was virtually complete. There were reports of recent weather issues making corn or soybean replant necessary for some producers. Corn emergence reached 95 percent, 1 week behind last year but 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. Corn condition rating remained 86 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of soybeans have been planted, 8 days behind last year but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Eighty-four percent of soybeans have emerged, 1 week behind last year but 2 days ahead of average. Iowa's soybean condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Thirty-eight percent of the oat crop has headed, 5 days behind last year. Iowa's oat condition rated 82 percent good to excellent.
Fifty-nine percent of the state's first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 6 days behind last year. All hay condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 65 percent good to excellent. There was a report of an increase in the fly population affecting livestock.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said, "Pockets of heavy rain and isolated severe hail have led farmers in some areas of the state to replant damaged crops. A heat wave this week will dry out wet fields and may exacerbate pockets of dryness where short-term precipitation deficits have accumulated."
Categories: Iowa, Crops