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Aphids swarm fieldsIowa Heat and humidity during the week ending Aug. 5 brought more stress to crops that already lacked moisture, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office, Aug. 6. Weekend showers brought much needed relief to crops. Insecticide spraying increased in soybeans due to large populations of aphids. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork, compared to 5.2 days last year at this time. Topsoil moisture rated 18 percent very short, 25 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 15 percent very short, 27 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Oats harvested for grain are at 94 percent, 1 percentage point ahead of both last year and the five-year average. The condition of the oat crop improved slightly to 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Corn silked, at 96 percent, is 2 percentage points behind last year, but 1 day ahead of normal. Corn in milk stage is at 71 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn in dough stage is at 28 percent, 2 percentage points ahead of last year and 5 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn condition is rated at 2 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Soybeans blooming, at 97 percent, are one percentage point ahead of last year and the five-year average. Eighty-two percent of soybeans are setting pods, 1 percentage point ahead of last year and 7 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition is 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the second cutting of alfalfa hay is complete, behind last year's 99 percent, but 1 percentage point ahead of the five-year average. The third cutting of alfalfa is 23 percent complete, behind last year's 30 percent, but 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. All hay condition is 12 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Pasture condition rated 14 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Some livestock are being fed hay to supplement poor pasture. Insect populations continue to pester livestock. Date: 8/8/07
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