With a chance of thunderstorms in today’s (Tuesday’s) forecast, many Iowans are thinking back to a year ago and the derecho that brought wind damage to much of Iowa. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, says he is reminded of the resilience of the state’s agriculture community following that natural disaster and as we look at continued weather-related challenges. “As weather continues to keep us on our toes, we have seen extreme drought conditions expand across parts of northern Iowa,” Naig goes on to say. “Forecasts show warm and dry conditions with a few scattered thunderstorms in the week ahead.” According to the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending Aug. 8, farmers had 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. On average, topsoil moisture levels continued to decline with a combined 53 percent reported as short to very short while subsoil moisture levels also dropped and are now rated 64 percent short to very short. There were some improvements in these levels in northwest Iowa, but they deteriorated in the central parts of the state. Some areas had haying and grazing of CRP lands approved in response to drought conditions. The corn crop is at 96 percent silking or beyond, which is equal with the five-year average. Corn beyond the dough stage hit 64 percent and 11 percent reached the dent stage, four days and three days ahead of the norm respectively. The corn condition rating came in at 61 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the soybeans are blooming, 10 days ahead of average, while 84 percent have set pods, eight days ahead. Soybean conditions are rated at 60 percent good to excellent. Oats harvested for grain reached 86 percent, one day behind the five-year average. The full report can be found at nass.usda.gov.
