Iowa

Another week of above average temperatures and below normal rainfall was common throughout much of Iowa during the week ending Aug. 21, however, several Northeastern areas of the state received in excess of two inches of rainfall, according to the Iowa Agricultural Statistics Service, Aug. 22.

Crop conditions for corn, soybeans and hay were virtually unchanged from last week. Spraying soybean fields for aphids was winding down this past week. Farmers made good progress harvesting hay as an estimated 71 percent of the third cutting is now complete, up 19 percentage points from the previous week's total.

There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork, compared to 4.3 days the previous week and 5.8 days last year at this time. Topsoil moisture rating declined from a week ago with 13 percent rated very short, 25 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus across Iowa. Subsoil moisture rated 21 percent very short, 25 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Corn condition declined slightly with 3 percent rated very poor, 8 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Corn in the milk stage was at 95 percent, up 5 percentage points from the previous week and 2 percentage points ahead of normal of 93 percent. Corn in the dough stage reached 76 percent, up 13 percentage points from a week ago and 10 percentage points ahead of normal. Corn dented reached 33 percent, which is ahead of last year and the five-year average. Corn mature reached 2 percent, which was also ahead of last year and normal. Soybeans setting pods was at 97 percent, equal to last year and 1 percentage point above the average of 96 percent. Soybean condition was rated nearly the same as a week ago at 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 20 percent excellent, which was nearly the same rating as a week ago. The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 71 percent, which is 11 percentage points ahead of last year and 17 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition was 9 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, improved slightly from a week ago.

Pasture and range condition was rated at 11 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Some supplemental feeding of livestock was reported due to poor pasture condition. Otherwise, livestock were generally reported to be in good condition.

Date: 8/24/05