For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Sept. 11, 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.
“Another
week of wet weather kept farmers from the fields and caused significant
flooding in parts of the state. Corn and soybeans continue to move towards
maturity and there is likely to be harvest activity starting over the next few
weeks as conditions allow,” 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
With
another week of widespread rainfall, Iowa farmers had just 2.1 days suitable
for fieldwork during the week ending September 9, 2018, according to the USDA,
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included
harvesting seed corn, chopping corn silage and moving grain.
Topsoil
moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 65 percent
adequate and 31 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very
short, 7 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Drought
concerns in south central and southeast Iowa were eased after recent storms
lifted adequate to surplus topsoil moisture ratings to 75 percent or greater.
Ninety-eight
percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond with 87 percent
dented or beyond, a week ahead of the 5-year average. Twenty-eight percent of
the corn crop was mature, also one week ahead of average. Corn condition rated
73 percent good to excellent. Fifty-eight percent of the soybean crop was
coloring with 17 percent dropping leaves, 5 days ahead of average. Soybean
condition rated 72 percent good to excellent. In spite of limited days suitable
for fieldwork, there were a few reports of both corn for grain and soybeans
being harvested.
The
third cutting of alfalfa hay was 83 percent complete, more than a week behind
the previous year as weather conditions continued to slow progress. Pasture
conditions improved to 50 percent good to excellent. Heavy rains made feedlot
conditions challenging for cattle producers.
IOWA PRELIMINARY
WEATHER SUMMARY
By
Dr. Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
The
first full week of September had above average precipitation statewide.
Temperatures were near to slightly above average, especially in eastern Iowa.
Multiple waves of showers and thunderstorms moved across Iowa Monday (3rd)
through Wednesday (5th), bringing locally heavy rain and isolated severe
weather. On Labor Day, most of Iowa’s southeastern two-thirds reported
rainfall. During the evening hours, two counties in eastern Iowa had tornadic
activity; in Linn County, two EF-1 tornadoes with winds between 100 and 110 mph
were reported near Cedar Rapids. Minor structural damage, uprooted trees, and
blown over crops were observed. Vinton (Benton County) also reported two EF-0
tornadoes with winds in excess of 80 mph. On Tuesday (4th) many parts of
northwestern Iowa that missed out on Monday’s rain received above normal
accumulations. Some thunderstorms were severe, with Algona (Kossuth County)
reporting 4.02 inches of rain (3.92 inches above average) and structural damage
from a brief tornado touchdown. A cold front moved through on Wednesday
bringing widespread measurable rainfall into Thursday (6th). Flash flood
warnings were issued as slow-moving storms lingered over central and eastern
Iowa. Two-day rainfall totals averaged above one inch across 75 counties;
Montezuma (Poweshiek County) reported 5.20 inches. Thursday was cooler than
average statewide with highs in the low to mid-70s. The southeastern quadrant
observed measurable rainfall; Ottumwa (Wapello County) reported 0.42 inches.
Rain showers moved into Iowa’s southern third early Friday (7th) and lingered
into Saturday (8th) as the remains of Tropical Depression Gordon moved through
Missouri. Rainfall totals were generally under an inch with Bloomfield (Davis County)
reporting 1.10 inches. The rest of the weekend saw pleasant conditions across
Iowa. Temperatures were unseasonably cool with highs ranging from the mid-60s
to mid-70s. Sunday (9th) was the nicest day of the week, with generally sunny
skies and dry conditions.
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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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