It was a mixed bag of weather for producers in Iowa with some getting slightly above average rainfall and warmer temperatures while others reported less rainfall than average, but soil moisture levels that were still adequate. Overall, however, the heat allowed farmers to get in 4.6 days of field work during the week ending July 7, according to the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report. Fieldwork included planting, harvesting hay, spraying and applying nitrogen. Statewide, one percent of corn is beginning to silk, about a week behind last year and the five-year average, and the condition declined to 61 percent good to excellent. Soybean emergence reached 96 percent, two weeks behind average, and seven percent has started to bloom, which is 12 days behind last year and 10 days behind average. Soybean conditions are rated 64 percent good to excellent. Ninety-four percent of the first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, about a week behind average. Statewide temperatures over the week averaged 3.4 degrees above normal at 77.1 degrees.
