Varying amounts of rain have resulted in disaster proclamations in some portions of the state while others are still in need of more. “Overall, Iowa crops are progressing rapidly with warm temperatures for the month of June, and continued warm temperatures in the near-term forecast,” says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig as he reviews the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions Report for the week ending June 28. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the week’s precipitation limited farmers to 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork that included fertilizer application, spraying, cutting of hay and hauling grain. There have been scattered reports of corn beginning to silk across the state and the overall crop is being rated at 85 percent good to excellent. Soybean emergence went up by about two percent from last week’s report, now at 98 percent, which is over two weeks ahead of last year and five days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean blooming has reached 16 percent and the conditions are at 83 percent good to excellent. Last week’s temperatures averaged 71.2 degrees, 1.6 degrees below normal. Above average rainfall was reported across eastern Iowa with departures from average up to three inches, while western Iowa saw deficits of up to an inch. The full report can be found at nass.usda.gov/ia.
