The latest weekly Iowa crop progress and weather survey conducted by USDA shows the state continues to deal with variable weather conditions, but crops are growing at a fast pace this year. The statewide survey released June 22 shows widely variable rainfall amounts last week.

“This past week brought excess moisture to areas of northern and eastern Iowa, while parts of west-central and southwest Iowa remain drier than normal,” notes Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Overall, above-average temperatures continue to allow for rapid crop development.”

There were only a few reports of corn beginning to silk in parts of the state, in some fields where corn was planted the earliest this spring. The state’s soybean crop is now 96% emerged on average, with the crop reaching 99% to 100% emerged in northwest, north-central and northeast Iowa.

The complete weekly Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions report is available on USDA’s site at nass.usda.gov/ia.

Crop report

Statewide there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 21, according to USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service. There were reports of farmers finding it difficult to spray their crops due to constant winds during the week. Fieldwork activities also included finishing up planting, harvesting hay and hauling grain.

Topsoil moisture is rated 1% very short, 7% short, 83% adequate and 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture is rated 1% very short, 6% short, 86% adequate and 7% surplus.

There were a few reports of corn beginning to silk. Corn condition is rated 85% good-to-excellent. Soybean emergence reached 96%, 16 days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition is rated 84% good-to-excellent. Oats headed progressed to 71%, one week ahead of last year but one day behind average. Oat condition is rated 83% good-to-excellent.

For first cutting of alfalfa hay, 93% has been completed. A few farmers have begun their second cutting of alfalfa. Hay condition is rated 75% good-to-excellent. Pasture condition is 70% good-to-excellent. No livestock issues were reported for the week.

Weather summary

Last week, unseasonably warm conditions persisted across western Iowa with near-normal temperatures across the state’s eastern one-third, says Justin Glisan, state climatologist at the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The statewide average temperature was 72.9 degrees F, 2 degrees above normal.

Showers and thunderstorms were reported on multiple days during the seven-day period, though dryness persisted across much of Iowa. Southwest Iowa reported rainfall deficits between 0.5 to 1 inch, while sections of north-central Iowa observed rain totals over 1.5 inches above normal. Weekly rainfall totals ranged from 0.4 inch at Perry (Dallas County) to 4.27 inches in Grundy Center (Grundy County). Statewide weekly average rainfall was 1.08 inches, while normal is 1.17 inches.

Little Sioux (Harrison County) reported the week’s high temperature of 94 degrees on June 15, which is 12 degrees above normal. Multiple stations in northeast Iowa reported the week’s low temperature of 51 degrees on June 15, which is 8 degrees below normal.

U.S. corn rating rises slightly

Looking at the nation’s crops as of June 21, USDA says the corn rating is up slightly from the previous week, while soybean conditions have declined.

For corn, the weekly USDA survey shows the good-to-excellent rating at 72%, up from 71% a week ago. Meanwhile, 2% of the nation’s corn is now in the silking stage, versus a 2% five-year average for this date.

For soybeans, USDA’s survey shows planting is now 96% complete nationally, versus a 93% five-year average. The report puts the soybean good-to-excellent rating at 70%, versus 72% a week ago.