For Immediate Release: Monday, Oct. 15, 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.
“The
cool wet weather kept farmers mostly out of the fields and as a result they
were only able to harvest 2 percent of corn and 1 percent of soybean acres.
Corn harvest is now 4 days behind average and soybean harvest is 11 days behind.
With just 19 percent of soybeans harvested as of Oct. 14, farmers are having
the slowest bean harvest on record,” Naig said. “With dryer weather in the
forecast, farmers will be putting in long hours to bring in the crop as quickly
as possible when conditions allow. We again encourage everyone working on the
farm or traveling on our rural roads to take the time needed to be safe during
what can be a very busy and stressful time.”
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
Rain
and early snow showers limited Iowa farmers to just 0.8 day suitable for
fieldwork during the week ending October 14, 2018, according to the USDA,
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included
moving grain, monitoring field conditions and harvesting corn when weather
permitted.
Topsoil
moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 40 percent
adequate and 60 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very
short, 2 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 48 percent surplus.
Ninety-seven
percent of the corn crop was mature, 5 days ahead of the five-year average.
Seventeen percent of the State’s corn for grain crop has been harvested, 4 days
ahead of last year but 4 days behind average. Across the State farmers were
only able to harvest 2 percent of their corn for grain crop during the week.
Farmers in southeast Iowa continue to lead the way with 41 percent of their
corn for grain harvested. Moisture content of field corn being harvested was at
20 percent. Corn condition rated 69 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven
percent of the soybean crop was dropping leaves, 5 days ahead of average.
Nineteen percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 11 days behind the
average. This is the smallest percentage of the soybean crop harvested by
October 14 since records began. Soybean condition rated 65 percent good to
excellent.
Pasture
conditions rated 55 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions remain
challenging after another week with significant precipitation left feedlots
extremely muddy.
IOWA PRELIMINARY
WEATHER SUMMARY
By
Dr. Justin Glisan, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
October’s
second week brought up to four inches of above average precipitation to Iowa.
Average temperatures were predominately cooler than expected; northwestern Iowa
was 6 to 10 degrees below normal. Parts of western Iowa were near normal to
warmer than average. The beginning of the reporting period was active with
widespread showers and thunderstorms across Iowa on Monday (8th) as low
pressure moved across the state. Knoxville (Marion County) reported a 24-hour
accumulation of 4.25 inches. Over 40 stations reported rainfall above one inch.
A strong cold front moved through Iowa on Tuesday (9th) with locally heavy
rain. Average highs ranged from the upper 40s in the northwest to the upper 70s
in the southeast. Over the two day period, severe thunderstorms produced 10
confirmed tornadoes, the strongest of which occurred Tuesday evening near
Creston (Union County) with estimated winds up to 120 mph, causing structural
damage. The cold front moved out of eastern Iowa early Wednesday (10th),
leaving behind cloudy and unseasonably cool temperatures. Average highs varied
from the 50s in the west and 60s to lower 70s ahead of the cold front. Dubuque
(Dubuque County) reported 0.99 inches of rain. Light rain showers moved in on
Friday (12th). Some locations in central Iowa reported snowflakes. Saturday (13th)
was relatively dry with spotty showers late in the day in northwest Iowa.
Sunday (14th) saw a mix of rain and snow with light accumulations on grass and
elevated surfaces, especially in north-central Iowa. Weekend temperatures were
below normal with highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Davenport (Scott
County) observed the week’s high of 84 degrees on Monday, 18 degrees above
normal. The week’s lowest temperature of 24 degrees was reported in Sanborn and
Sheldon (O’Brien County) on the 14th, an average of 12 degrees below 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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