USDA’s weekly survey released Aug. 20 shows 85% of the Iowa corn crop has reached dough stage or beyond, nine days ahead of the five-year average. Iowa’s 2018 soybean crop is 98% blooming with 93% setting pods, one week ahead of last year and eight days ahead of average.

In far northwest Iowa, Sioux County farmer Tim Barkema says with plentiful rain this summer, “we are looking at perhaps the best soybean crop we’ve ever had on our farm.”

In southern Iowa, where it’s been very dry this year, farmers appreciate the recent rains of the past week. “It’s been mighty dry here for the last month and a half,” notes Al Kostecki, farming in Clarke County in south-central Iowa. “These rains we are getting now are coming at just the right time to help our soybeans fill out their pods.”

Seed corn harvest starts in southeast Iowa
The Beck’s Seed Co. processing plant yesterday began harvesting seed corn fields. As a rule of thumb, that means harvesting of commercial corn should start about four weeks later.

“Crop progress remains well ahead of average, and we are looking at a potentially early harvest if conditions continue to cooperate,” says Mike Naig, Iowa ag secretary. “Many parts of the state are welcoming the recent rain showers, as they have come during a critically important time in soybean development and should help boost yields.”

The complete weekly Iowa Crop Progress and Weather Report is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website.

Crop report
Iowa farmers had 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 19, according to the USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service. Activities for the week included harvesting hay and oats for grain, chopping corn silage, spraying for aphids, and moving grain.

Topsoil moisture rated 11% very short, 19% short, 64% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 10% very short, 19% short, 66% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture in south central and southeast Iowa remain critical with 95% or more rated short to very short.

Statewide, 85% of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, nine days ahead of the five-year average. Corn dented was at 42% as of Aug. 19, a full 9 days ahead of last year. Corn condition rated 73% good to excellent.

Iowa’s 2018 soybean crop as of Aug. 19 was 98% blooming with 93% setting pods, 1 week ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the average. Soybean condition declined slightly to 70% good to excellent. Iowa’s oat crop is 95% harvested for grain.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 66% complete, five days behind the previous year but eight days ahead of the average. Pasture conditions declined to 41% good to excellent. While some feedlots in northwest Iowa have been dealing with mud, dry conditions in southern Iowa have resulted in CRP being released for emergency grazing.

Weather summary
According to Justin Glisan, IDALS climatologist, last week started off warm and dry with average daytime highs up to 6 degrees above normal Aug. 13. Desoto observed a high of 94 degrees F, almost 10 degrees warmer than average. A low-pressure system spinning over eastern Kansas brought rainfall to Iowa’s southern half on Aug. 14, with Des Moines (Polk County) recording 0.51 inch. A few stations from Lamoni (Decatur County) to Marshalltown (Marshall County) also recorded accumulating rain.

Thundershowers lingered into Aug. 15 with isolated thunderstorms reforming in the afternoon across much of the state. Fifteen stations observed rainfall over 1 inch, with Red Oak (Montgomery County) reporting 2.49 inches. These storms dissipated by nightfall. Temperatures were above average during this period, with lower 90s in southern Iowa and upper 80s over the rest of the state.

Another system moved through on Aug. 16 bringing thunderstorms to a significant portion of Iowa, especially north and east. Davenport (Scott County) observed 2.49 inches. With rainy conditions, temperatures ranged from near-normal to slightly warmer than average; highs were in the mid-80s in the southeast and lower 80s across the rest of Iowa. A high-pressure system brought nice weather Aug. 17-18, with lingering thundershowers in eastern Iowa on Aug. 17.

After a dry Saturday, a large low-pressure system moved into southwest Iowa on Aug. 19. As the low slowly moved north, significant accumulations were reported in Harrison, Shelby and Audubon counties. Much of Iowa recorded measurable rainfall with minor accumulation in the southeast quadrant, though weekly rainfall was below average across Iowa’s eastern two-thirds. Weekend temperatures were seasonal across the western third and slightly warmer than average over the rest of Iowa, with highs ranging from the upper 70s in the northwest to upper 80s in the south.