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For Immediate Release: Monday, Aug. 27, 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.
“Farmers
are chopping silage and we have started to see seed corn harvest getting
underway as well,” Naig said. “Much of the state received significant rainfall
last week, including parts of southern Iowa which have been in drought
condition. Even with that recent rainfall, more than 90 percent of subsoil in
south central and southeast Iowa is still rated as short or very short of
moisture.”
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 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 26,
2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Activities for the week included cutting hay, chopping corn silage, harvesting
oats for grain, spraying for aphids, and moving grain.
Topsoil
moisture levels rated 7 percent very short, 14 percent short, 70 percent
adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 8 percent very
short, 16 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. In spite of
recent rains, subsoil moisture levels in south central and southeast Iowa
continue to remain critically low with greater than 90 percent rated short to
very short.
Ninety-two
percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, 8 days ahead of
the 5-year average. Corn dented was at 63 percent, 9 days ahead of last year.
Seven percent of the corn crop was mature, 9 days ahead of average. Seed corn
harvest has begun. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.
Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop was setting pods with 11 percent
coloring, 4 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average. Soybean
condition rated 70 percent good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of the oat crop
has been harvested for grain.
The
third cutting of alfalfa hay was 75 percent complete, 4 days behind the
previous year but 1 week ahead of the average. Pasture conditions improved
slightly to 43 percent good to excellent. Although pastures in south central
and southwest Iowa were able to refresh after receiving much needed
precipitation, some producers have been forced to haul water to livestock.
IOWA PRELIMINARY
WEATHER SUMMARY
By
Dr. Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
Cooler
conditions were observed statewide during the reporting period with average
temperatures up to five degrees below normal in some locations. Much of Iowa
also saw above average rainfall accumulations, generally ranging from one to
three inches. A large low pressure system continued to spin over the state on
Monday (20th), bringing heavy rainfall to northern and western Iowa. Over fifty
stations reported precipitation totals above one inch; Fort Dodge (Webster
County) recorded 3.95 inches. A weak tornado was also reported during the
evening in Clinton County, damaging crops and trees. High pressure dominated on
Tuesday (21st), bringing cooler conditions to Iowa. Average highs were well below
normal, especially in western Iowa; Denison (Crawford County) observed a high
of 65 degrees, almost 18 degrees below average. Cool and dry conditions
continued into Wednesday (22nd) and over much of the state on Thursday (23rd),
as the high pressure propagated across northern Missouri. Showers and
thunderstorms moved into southwest Iowa Thursday morning, bringing measurable
rainfall. Another complex of thunderstorms developed along the Iowa-Missouri
border early Friday (24th) bringing much needed rain to southeastern Iowa.
Multiple stations in Appanoose, Davis, and Wapello counties observed rainfall
between one and two inches, with isolated totals nearing three inches. Severe
storms also formed and moved rapidly through northern Iowa, with a few severe hail
and high wind reports from Buffalo Center (Kossuth County) to Mason City (Cerro
Gordo County). Leftover thundershowers moved out of eastern Iowa early Saturday
(25th), leaving minor accumulations. On Sunday (26th) another round of
thunderstorms fired along a warm front, with two severe wind reports that
evening in north central Iowa. Weekend temperatures were up to four degrees
warmer across much of Iowa, with Donnellson (Lee County) observing the week’s
high temperature of 95 degrees.
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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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