Northwest Iowa — Hit or miss rains allowed Iowa farmers 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 10, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included herbicide and insecticide applications to soybeans and second cutting of hay. There were scattered reports of crop damage due to strong winds and hail.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72-percent adequate and 4-percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 4-percent very short, 17-percent short, 75-percent adequate and 4-percent surplus. South central and southeast Iowa were the driest areas of the State with 49-percent rated short to very short on subsoil moisture.
Twenty-nine percent of the corn crop had reached the silking stage. Corn condition rated 79-percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 40-percent, 2 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Six percent of soybeans were setting pods, 4 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition rated 77-percent good to excellent this week. Nearly all of the State’s oat crop was headed. Oat acreage turning color reached 75-percent, with 16-percent of the oat crop harvested for grain or seed, 4-days ahead of last year. The statewide oat crop condition rating was unchanged from last week at 80-percent good to excellent.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 67-percent, more than 2 weeks ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay got underway this week. Hay condition was rated at 72-percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 61-percent good to excellent. Livestock were generally reported to be in good condition, benefiting from cooler temperatures.
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