Western Iowa continues to remain dry as precipitation in the state last week seemed to bypass the region. An eight-county area was moved into a D1, moderate drought classification by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, says rainfall for the week ending Sunday, July 12, was spotty and crops and pastures in the western portions are experiencing moisture stress. “Some areas also experienced hail events over the weekend,” Naig say. “Short-term forecasts favor continued warm temperatures and corn pollination is underway in many areas of the state.” The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) map is showing 7.2 percent of Iowa falls into the moderate drought category. This includes all of Greene and most of Guthrie County, the majority of Carroll and Dallas along with portions of Calhoun, Audubon, Webster and Boone Counties. There is another 34.6 percent of the state categorized as DO, abnormally dry. This area ranges from west of Mason City to the northern tier of southern counties, from Fremont to Decatur. The weekly Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions Report showed 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Corn silking, or beyond, is at 35 percent, eight days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average. There were scattered reports of corn reaching the dough stage. Corn ratings dropped slightly to 83 percent good to excellent. Soybean blooming reached 58 percent, two weeks ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average. Pod setting reached 10 percent, two weeks ahead of last year and two days ahead of average. Soybeans are rated 83 percent good to excellent. The full USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report can be found at nass.usda.gov/ia.
