NORTHEY COMMENTS ON IOWA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION REPORT
Iowa Department of Agriculture
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey 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 October.
“Much of the state remains very dry with farmers looking for a good soaking rain, especially as we enter August, a critically important time for soybeans,” Northey 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
Iowa remained mostly dry with scattered reports of rainfall during the week ending July 30, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included applying fungicides and insecticides, harvesting oats, and haying.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 22 percent very short, 31 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. South central Iowa reported two-thirds of topsoil moisture as very short. According to the July 25, 2017 U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of south central Iowa were considered under severe drought conditions. Subsoil moisture levels fell to 19 percent very short, 31 percent short, 48 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Ninety-one percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the silking stage, 3 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Nineteen percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage, 4 days behind last year and 2 days behind average. Corn condition declined to 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 52 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 85 percent, 4 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of average. Fifty-two percent of soybeans were setting pods, 2 days ahead of average. Soybean condition decreased slightly to 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 51 percent good and 9 percent excellent. Seventy-three percent of the oat crop for grain or seed was harvested, 1 day ahead of average.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 95 percent, 4 days ahead of last year and nearly two weeks ahead of average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 22 percent complete, 1 day ahead of average. Hay condition dropped to 54 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition was rated 37 percent good to excellent. Reduced temperatures improved livestock conditions; however, supplemental feeding of hay and rotation of pastures were reported due to lack of rain causing poor pasture conditions.
