According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, the need for rain is growing more pressing throughout the state. Producers had an average of 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending June 11. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “While below-average precipitation in the first half of June has been helpful for field work, soil moisture levels remain low, and drought conditions have worsened across large swaths of the state. Though the more seasonal temperatures have helped alleviate some moisture stress in both corn and soybeans, we are now in an ‘El Niño Advisory’ and outlooks thankfully indicate more rainfall chances through the end of the month.” According to the USDA’s most recent data, Iowa topsoil moisture conditions rated 60 percent short to very short, 39 percent adequate, and one percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions were similar at 59 percent short to very short, 40 percent adequate, and one percent surplus. Corn emergence neared completion at 98 percent, one week ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the five-year average. Corn conditions declined to 70 percent good to excellent. Soybean emergence surpassed 95 percent, 11 days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of normal. However, soybean conditions continued to decline and dropped to 66 percent good to excellent. The complete USDA Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
