Des Moines, Iowa — Much-needed rain fell throughout the state of Iowa during the week ending August 20, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Report.
The latest drought monitor information is from a week ago, however, so shows very little change from the previous week except that it was a little less dry in northern Osceola County and the very northeastern tip of Lyon County. We’ll have to wait until the next drought monitor report is released on Thursday to see how the rains of the past few days affected the drought.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says that unfortunately the rain we received may be too little and too late for parts of south-central and southeast Iowa that have already seen significant crop damage due to drought. He says that hopefully the rains and cool weather are helping boost corn and bean yields in other parts of the state that have received some moisture throughout the growing season.
The latest crop report says that statewide there were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included haying and hauling grain.
Topsoil moisture levels improved to 19 percent very short, 31 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in south-central and southeast Iowa remained over 90 percent short to very short. Subsoil moisture levels rated 22 percent very short, 34 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.
The latest crop report says that seventy-eight percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, one week behind last year. Twenty-one percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, one week behind last year and five days behind the 5-year average. Sixty-one percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition. Eighty-eight percent of soybeans were setting pods, 4 days behind last year but equal to average. Soybean condition improved slightly to 58 percent good to excellent. Almost all the oat crop for grain or seed has been harvested.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 73 percent complete, 8 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of average. Pasture condition improved to 19 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 23 percent good and 3 percent excellent. Livestock conditions have been ideal with the cooler temperatures. However, available water supplies in ponds and creeks remains an issue for some producers and supplemental feeding has been required.
