For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Oct. 9, 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.
“This
run of extremely wet weather has slowed harvest progress dramatically and as a
result soybean harvest is now well behind the five-year average. We need the
rains to stop and several days of dry weather so fields can dry and farmers are
able to get back to harvest,” 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
Continued
wet weather conditions allowed Iowa farmers just 1.6 days suitable for
fieldwork during the week ending October 7, 2018, according to the USDA,
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included
harvesting corn and soybeans when weather permitted.
Topsoil
moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 41 percent
adequate and 59 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very
short, 2 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 47 percent surplus. Recent
rains have boosted topsoil moisture supplies in south central and southeast
Iowa to 99 percent adequate to surplus.
Ninety-five
percent of the corn crop was mature, 9 days ahead of average. Fifteen percent
of the State’s corn for grain has been harvested, 10 days ahead of last year.
Farmers in southeast Iowa continue to lead the way with 39 percent of their
corn for grain harvested. Moisture content of field corn being harvested was at
20 percent. Corn condition rated 70 percent good to excellent. Nearly all of
the soybean crop was coloring with 94 percent dropping leaves, 8 days ahead of
average. Eighteen percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 5 days behind
the average. Soybean condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.
The
third cutting of alfalfa hay was nearly complete at 98 percent. Pasture
condition improved slightly to 55 percent good to excellent. Muddy feedlot
conditions have been a challenge for cattle producers.
IOWA PRELIMINARY
WEATHER SUMMARY
By
Dr. Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
The
first week of October had unsettled conditions statewide with above average
rainfall and generally below average temperatures. Precipitation totals were up
to four inches above normal with higher accumulations in eastern Iowa.
Temperatures were cooler than expected, except in the southeastern corner.
Monday (1st) was a rainy day for Iowa’s northern two-thirds as a low pressure
system moved into the state. Rainfall totals into Tuesday (2nd) morning were
above one inch for over 40 stations with Dubuque (Dubuque County) reporting
2.31 inches, 2.21 inches above normal. Average highs ranged from the 50s in the
northwest with gradual warming into the lower 70s towards the southeast.
Showers and thunderstorms continued across northern parts of Iowa during the day
on Wednesday (3rd). Statewide highs were in the upper 70s and low 80s. Late in
the evening a cold front moved through Iowa, bringing rain to the southeast.
Accumulations were under an inch with Newton (Jasper County) observing the
highest total of 0.81 inches. With the cold front exiting Iowa early Thursday,
highs cooled into the 50s. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms moved
through Iowa Friday (5th) through Sunday (7th), especially across the southern
and eastern counties. Heavy rain was observed in eastern Iowa Friday evening
into early Saturday (6th); Williamsburg (Iowa County) reported 3.65 inches,
3.55 inches above average. Stations from Marion to Scott counties recorded
accumulations above two inches. Measurable rainfall was reported across much of
Iowa on Sunday. Weekend highs ranged from the upper 40s in the north to lower
60s in the south. De Soto (Harrison County) observed the week’s warmest
temperature of 93 degrees on the 2nd. Estherville (Emmet County) reported the
week’s low of 30 degrees on the 4th. Statewide average precipitation was around
1.61 inches, 0.93 inches above the average of 0.68 inches.
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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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