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For Immediate Release: Monday, Aug. 6, 2018
DES MOINES – Iowa
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress
and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical
Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.
“Crops
continue to move towards maturity with both corn and soybeans more than a week
ahead of the 5-year average. Seventy-five percent of the corn crop and 74
percent of soybeans are rated good to excellent, both down slightly from last
week,” Naig said.
The
weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s
site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia. The report
summary follows here:
CROP
REPORT
Iowa
farmers had 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 5,
2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Activities for the week included harvesting hay and oats for grain, spraying
for aphids, and moving grain.
Topsoil
moisture levels rated 12 percent very short, 24 percent short, 61 percent
adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 10 percent very
short, 21 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil
moisture levels in south central and southeast Iowa continued to fall with 48
percent considered very short.
Almost
the entire corn crop has silked. Fifty-five percent of the corn crop has
reached the dough stage or beyond, over a week ahead of average. Corn dented
was at eight percent. Corn condition fell to 75 percent good to excellent.
Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop was blooming with 81 percent setting
pods, over a week ahead of both last year and the average. Soybean condition
declined slightly to 74 percent good to excellent. Eighty-two percent of the oat
crop has been harvested for grain.
The
second cutting of alfalfa hay has neared completion. The third cutting of
alfalfa hay was 30 percent complete, 3 days behind the previous year but 4 days
ahead of the average. Hay condition fell to 61 percent good to excellent. Pasture
conditions declined to 46 percent rated good to excellent. Regrowth of pastures
and hay has been a concern, especially in the southern two-thirds of the State.
IOWA PRELIMINARY
WEATHER SUMMARY
By
Dr. Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
Much
of Iowa had below average temperatures and precipitation for the reporting
period. Monday (30th) and Tuesday (31st) were unsettled, with widely scattered
thunderstorms, especially Monday afternoon and evening. Cresco (Howard County)
and Greenfield (Adair County) received rainfall of 1.10 inches and 1.04 inches,
respectively. On Wednesday (1st), a cold front worked its way from the
northwest to southeast, producing severe thunderstorms across central Iowa.
There were multiple reports of one inch diameter hail from Otho (Webster
County) to Boone (Boone County). Local rainfall accumulations ranged from 0.61
inches in Ames (Story County) to 0.53 inches in Dubuque County. Statewide
average highs were generally in the lower 80s, between two to five degrees
below average north to south. Another cold front crossed the state on Thursday
(2nd), bringing spotty thundershowers to parts of Iowa, though very little in
measurable precipitation. On Friday (3rd) a warm front lifted over the state,
bringing warmer temperatures; highs ranged from the mid-70s to low 80s in the
north and mid-80s in the southern third. During the early morning hours of
Saturday (4th), an organized storm system moved into western Iowa, bringing
rainfall to many stations; Sioux Center (Sioux County) reported 2.02 inches,
the week’s highest accumulation. Severe weather returned on Sunday (5th) as a
surface front brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms along Highway 20. There
were reports of hail and high winds from Webster City (Hamilton County) to
Dubuque (Dubuque County). Measureable rainfall was reported at many stations
across the state’s northern half, with Sheldon (O’Brien County) reporting 2.00
inches, 1.88 inches above normal. Friday through Sunday, temperatures were near
normal in the north and above average, by around three degrees, in the south.
Lamoni (Decatur County) observed the week’s high temperature of 98 degrees, 13
degrees above normal.
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For more information, contact Dustin Vande Hoef, (515) 281-3375 or (515) 326-1616 (cell) or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov
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