The state’s farmers were handed another dry week last week.“Cooler-than-normal conditions continued across the state with varying amounts of precipitation,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture …
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The state’s farmers were handed another dry week last week.
“Cooler-than-normal conditions continued across the state with varying amounts of precipitation,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “The southwest portion of the state was the only area reporting above-average rainfall, and other areas are trending drier-than-normal.”
Crop report
Another dry week across most of the state allowed Iowa farmers six days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 4, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Fieldwork activities included moving grain, spraying fungicides and insecticides and harvesting hay and oats.
Topsoil moisture condition was rated 5% very short, 26% short, 67% adequate and 2% surplus.
Areas in 41 counties throughout Iowa were rated as abnormally dry according to the Aug. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 3% very short, 19% short, 75% adequate and 3% surplus.
Eighty-four percent of the corn crop has begun to silk, 15 days behind last year and 10 days behind the five-year average.
Twenty percent of the crop reached the dough stage, 10 days behind last year and one week behind average. Corn condition rated 66% good to excellent.
Seventy-eight percent of the soybean crop has started to bloom, 15 days behind last year and 11 days behind average.
Thirty-three percent of the crop has started setting pods, 16 days behind last year and 13 days behind average.
Soybean condition improved slightly to 65% good to excellent from the previous week.
Nearly all of the oat crop has started coloring at 97% statewide.
Sixty-four percent of the oat crop has been harvested for grain, nearly one week behind average.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 86%, six days behind average.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 11% complete statewide, eight days behind average.
Hay condition rated 61% good to excellent.
Pasture condition continued to decline for the fifth straight week with 53% good to excellent. There were no major livestock issues reported this past week.
