Below average precipitation for the week gave Iowa farmers 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Field activities included cutting hay and spraying crops. Drought concerns were still prominent, the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report said.
"As drought and abnormally dry conditions continue across Iowa, widespread weekend rainfall throughout most of the state was welcomed by farmers," Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a news release. "While scattered storms are possible this weekend, the official start to summer this week will coincide with a stretch of hot and dry days. Longer term outlooks are showing a return to near-normal rainfall as we enter a critical period for crop growth."
Topsoil moisture condition rated 20% very short, 50% short and 30% adequate with no surplus. The percentage of topsoil moisture considered short to very short has gone from 25% the week ending May 21 to 70% for the week that ended Sunday, just a month later. Subsoil moisture condition rated 17% very short, 47% short, 35% adequate and 1% surplus.
Corn condition continued to decline rating 59% good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of soybeans have emerged, 10 days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition dropped to 56% good to excellent.
Source: newspressnow.com
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Iowa, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Weather