The Iowa corn crop as of Aug. 23 has a good-to-excellent rating of 50%, versus 59% a week earlier. This is the lowest rating for Iowa during the 2020 crop season, according to the Aug. 24 USDA weekly report. Dry conditions are a concern for most of the state.

Nearly half of Iowa is now in a “severe or extreme drought,” according to USDA’s weekly drought monitor. Overall, 45% of the state’s land is in the drought category. The derecho windstorm on Aug. 10 brought little rain. Parts of southwest Iowa received between 0.01 to 0.75 inch of rain from the storm, according to the National Weather Service. Des Moines received 0.61 inch of rain from the derecho. There are no rain chances in the next five days, says the latest USDA forecast.

“Isolated thunderstorms brought needed rainfall to northern and eastern Iowa toward the end of last week, though much of Iowa missed out,” says Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig. “With the continued lack of rain, drought conditions have expanded across the state. High temperatures over the next several days will add to the challenges of moisture stress and the recent derecho damage.”

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

Crop report

Mostly dry weather allowed Iowa farmers 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 23, according to USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service. Dry conditions are now a concern for most of Iowa. Field activities included harvesting hay and chopping corn silage.

Topsoil moisture is rated 31% very short, 45% short, 24% adequate and zero surplus. Iowa’s topsoil moisture condition deteriorated to over three-quarters short to very short. Subsoil moisture is rated 28% very short, 43% short, 29% adequate and zero surplus. Iowa’s subsoil moisture condition fell to where almost three-quarters of the state is now short to very short. These are the highest levels of short to very short topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions since September 2013.

Corn is 91% in the dough stage or beyond, over two weeks ahead of the previous year and six days ahead of the five-year average. Almost half of the corn crop is in or beyond dent stage, 12 days ahead of the previous year and five days ahead of average. Corn condition is now rated 50% good-to-excellent, a drop of 9% from the previous week and the lowest level this crop season.

Soybeans setting pods are 18 days ahead of last year and over a week ahead of average at 95%. Soybean condition fell again with the crop now rated 56% good-to-excellent, the lowest level so far this season.

Oats for grain harvest is virtually complete. Alfalfa hay third cutting is 68% complete, 12 days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the five-year average. Pasture condition fell 10% to where it’s now just 23% good-to-excellent. Some farmers have been cleared to hay or graze Conservation Reserve Program acres due to drought conditions.

Weather

“A quiet weather pattern persisted through most of last week, perpetuating dry conditions over much of Iowa,” says Justin Glisan, state climatologist at the Iowa Department of Agriculture. “Sections of north-central Iowa reported above average rain over the weekend of Aug. 22-23, though extended dryness still persists.”

Drought conditions continue to expand across the region as widespread rains have not yet materialized. Average temperatures varied from unseasonable warmth in northwest Iowa to cooler-than-normal conditions in southern and eastern Iowa. The statewide average temperature for Iowa last week was 70.8 degrees, 1.1 degree below normal.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at many stations across Iowa to 3.39 inches at Lake Mills (Winnebago County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.21 inch, while normal is 0.89 inch for the seven-day period. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the week’s high temperature of 95 degrees on Aug. 21, which is 14 degrees above normal. Several stations reported the week’s low temperature of 47 degrees on Aug. 20, on average 12 degrees below normal.

U.S. crop ratings fall again

The U.S. crop condition ratings for corn and soybeans worsened this past week, according to USDA. The good-to-excellent ratings for both crops continue to drop back from the previous week.

In its report released Aug. 24, USDA’s estimate of the nation’s corn with a good-to-excellent rating is 64%, versus 69% a week ago. The survey shows 88% of the nation’s corn crop is now in dough stage, versus a five-year average of 82%. It shows 44% of the crop is dented, versus a 39% five-year average. USDA says 5% of the U.S. corn crop is already mature, equal to a five-year low.

The U.S. corn crop is now 44% dented, versus a 39% five-year average. USDA pegs U.S. corn as 5% mature, equal to a five-year low. The Iowa corn crop as of Aug. 23 has a good-to-excellent rating of 50%, versus a 59% rating a week ago. It’s the lowest rating for Iowa during the 2020 crop season, so far. The USDA report says, "Dry conditions are now a concern for most of the state of Iowa."

For soybeans nationwide, USDA says 92% of the crop is now in the “setting pods stage,” which is ahead of the 87% five-year average. At the same time, 4% of the U.S. soybean crop is already dropping leaves, versus a 4% five-year average. USDA estimates the soybean good-to-excellent rating at 69%, versus 72% a week ago.