IARN — The Crop Progress and Conditions Report on Monday showed Iowa’s corn crop is currently rated 62% good to excellent and soybeans are 61%.
The weekly report says Iowa’s corn silking or beyond reached 92%, one day ahead of the 5-year average. Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 42%, four days ahead of average. Five percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the national pace of corn doughing is ahead of schedule.
“Corn reaching the dough stage on August 1st was 38%,” said Rippey. “Nationally, that’s five points ahead of the five-year average and one percentage point ahead of where we were at this time a year ago. Looking at the major Midwestern production states, only one is reporting behind average progress. That is Missouri at 54% reaching the dough stage. The five-year average is 56%.”
Ninety-three percent of soybeans in Iowa were blooming on August 1st, 9 days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 73%, eight days ahead of normal. Rippey says crop development progress for soybeans is similar to corn around the country.
“Ahead of normal progress for most states,” said Rippey. “We had 86% of the soybeans blooming nationally by August 1st, four points ahead of the five-year average and two points ahead of this time a year ago. And then soybeans setting pods, the national number is 58%. The five-year average is 52%. We’re just slightly ahead of last year’s progress which was 57% on this date.”
In Iowa, the second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 92% complete. The third cutting was reported at 22% complete, 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. Hay condition rated 57% good to excellent. Pasture condition was rated 40% good to excellent.
No livestock comments were received this week.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
