Spotty rains and cooler temperatures were welcomed across the state this past week, but many areas, especially in south-central and southwest Iowa remain quite dry. Statewide 33% of the topsoil and 24% of subsoil was rated as short to very short of moisture as of July 3, according to USDA’s weekly crop conditions survey.

TASSELING TIME: The next week to 10 days is critical for corn, as pollination takes place for much of Iowa’s 2016 crop. Hot, dry weather is worrying some farmers, particularly in southern Iowa where moderate drought conditions exist.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map at the end of June showed most of southeast and south central Iowa in a “moderate drought.” Southwest Iowa and much of west central Iowa are in the “abnormally dry” category—not quite as dry as southeast and south central. But the saving grace over the past week were the cooler than normal temperatures—a welcome break in the otherwise hotter than normal weather for most of June. Last week there were fewer fields with curled corn leaves; curling is a sign of stress.

Rest of this summer could also be hotter than normal
There were 13 days in June that reached at least 90 degrees in Iowa. The month of June will likely be the 11^th hottest June in Iowa in 144 years when the final figures are all in and tallied, says Harry Hillaker, state climatologist at the Iowa Department of Agriculture. This June has been warmer on average across Iowa which means the rest of the summer could be hotter than normal as well, he says.

“Very often, that pattern persists,” notes Hillaker, meaning the hotter than normal weather could extend well into July—during the critical pollination period for corn. This June recorded warmer temperatures than a typical July in Iowa, with the hottest day in Des Moines on June 15 of 96 degrees. June 2016 will likely go into the record books as the fourth hottest June on record in Des Moines since 1879, he adds.

Hot, dry weather is worrying farmers in some areas
“We’ve lost some yield potential this year in Iowa but it’s too early to say how much,” says Mark Licht, Iowa State University Extension cropping systems agronomist at Ames. Much of southern Iowa still needed a soaking rain as of June 5, at least a couple inches to help offset the drought conditions. The National Weather Service forecasts the possibility of rain in southern Iowa this week. 

The complete weekly Iowa Crop Progress & Condition Report is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship website www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s site www.nass.usda.gov/ia. The report summary follows here:

Spotty rains brought some relief, while missing other areas
CROP REPORT: Spotty precipitation brought relief to some areas while missing other areas entirely in Iowa during the week ending July 3, 2016, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included cutting hay, hauling grain and spraying beans.

Topsoil moisture for Iowa is rated 8% very short, 25% short, 64% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated 4% very short, 20% short, 73% adequate and 3% surplus. South central and southeast Iowa continued to have the lowest levels of topsoil moisture in the state with two-thirds short to very short this week.

Iowa corn is 6% at silking stage, 20% of soybeans are blooming
As of July 3 statewide, 6% of Iowa’s corn crop had reached the silking stage and 79% of the crop rated good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 20%, 2 days ahead of last year and ahead of the 5-year average. There were scattered reports of soybeans setting pods. Soybean condition rated 77% good to excellent as of July 3. Oat acreage headed reached 95%. Oats turning color reached 51%, 5 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Harvesting oats for grain or seed has begun in some areas. Oat crop condition is rated 80% good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 48% complete, 2 weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. Hay condition is rated 71% good to excellent, while pasture condition declined from the previous week, rating 64% good to excellent as of July 3. Livestock conditions are reported as normal although some producers may need to supplement water in pastures due to low creek levels.

IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY—for week ending July 3, 2016

By Harry Hillaker, state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Iowa received a welcome break from the heat this past week. Temperatures were above normal across most of the state on Monday (June 27) but were below normal for the remainder of the period, particularly over the weekend.

Statewide average temperature was 5.6 degrees below normal
Donnellson in Iowa’s southeast corner recorded a high of 95 degrees on Monday July 4 while much of southern Iowa saw daytime high temperatures only in the mid-sixties on both Saturday (July 2) and Sunday (July 3). Lowest minimum temperatures were 47 degree readings at Elkader on Wednesday (June 29) morning and at Cresco, Elkader and Estherville on Sunday (July 3) morning.

Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 6 to 8 degrees below normal over the northeast part of Iowa, to 2 to 3 degrees subnormal over the far southwest with a statewide average of 5.6 degrees less than normal.

Rainfall last week was generally greatest in southwest Iowa
Rainfall amounts were highly variable, but in a reverse from recent weeks were generally greatest over the southwest and least in the northeast. There were some isolated thunderstorms over southwestern Iowa on Monday (June 27) evening, including some that brought a destructive combination of high winds and hail to portions of Mills and Fremont counties. Thunderstorms covered parts of western Iowa on Wednesday (June 29) with some damaging wind and hail in portions of Harrison and Pottawattamie counties.

Thunderstorms were scattered over much of the state on Thursday (June 30) with a band of heavy rain centered over Carroll where 3.83 inches of rain fell in the pre-dawn hours. Friday (July 1) was dry in most areas while Saturday (July 2) brought widespread rain to southern and southwestern Iowa with heaviest rains in parts of Mills and Montgomery counties. The reporting week ended with mostly dry weather on Sunday (July 3). Rain totals for the week varied from only sprinkles at Pocahontas and Dyersville to 4.20 inches near Hastings in Mills County. The statewide average precipitation was 0.70 inches while normal for the week is 1.11 inches.