NAIG COMMENTS ON IOWA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION REPORT – May 29, 2018
Mike Naig
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.
“The warm, dry weather allowed many farmers to make significant progress and now 96 percent of corn and 81 percent of soybeans have been planted, which is on pace or slightly ahead of the five-year average. The high temperatures have created some stress for livestock and farmers have been working hard to provide plenty of water and make sure their animals are as comfortable as possible,” Naig said.
The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia. The report summary follows here:
CROP REPORT
A hot and dry week across much of the State allowed Iowa farmers 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 27, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 12 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. South central Iowa continues to struggle with subsoil moisture supply availability with three-quarters rated short to very short.
Iowa growers have planted 96 percent of the expected corn crop, with 77 percent of the crop emerged. Farmers in the northern one-third of the state were able to plant over 20 percent of their corn during the previous week which leaves less than 10 percent still to be planted. Soybean growers have 81 percent of the expected crop planted, a week ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-four percent of soybeans have emerged, three days ahead of last year. Nearly all the expected oat crop has been planted, 1 week behind average. Ninety-five percent of the crop has emerged, 2 days behind last year. Four percent of the oat crop has headed, 4 days behind both last year and the average.
Hay conditions improved slightly to 65 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions also improved to 60 percent good to excellent. Warm temperatures and improved soil moisture levels strongly supported pasture and hay growth. Extreme temperatures resulted in reports of heat stress in cattle herds.
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
By Michael Timlin, Regional Climatologist, Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Temperatures were above normal across the state while most of the state saw below average rainfall. Temperatures warmed through the week with maximum temperatures in the upper 50s and 60s early in the week climbing to the 90s by the end of the week in all but the northeastern corner of the state. Minimum temperatures climbed from the upper 40s and 50s to the 60s later in the week. The coolest temperature recorded during the week was 47 degrees at Sibley on the 21st while the warmest reading was 101 degrees at Red Oak on the 26th . With the rising temperatures, soil temperatures also rose from the upper 50s and 60s into the 70s by the end of the week. Widespread precipitation on the 21st gave way to scattered rain for the rest of the week. Severe weather on the 25th included strong winds and large hail. Wind reports over 60 mph and reports of trees and limbs downed along with large hail up to 2.00 inches in diameter came in from central to northeastern Iowa. Above normal precipitation was reported at only some locations in the northeastern third of the state while totals were less than 0.20 inches for many locations in the southwestern half of the state. Viewed as a percentage of normal, the rainfall ranged from 200 percent of normal to less than 10 percent of normal. The highest rainfall total was recorded at Estherville in Emmet County with 2.67 inches including 2.39 inches on the 23rd. The driest location was nearby at Primghar in O’Brien County where no precipitation fell during the week.
