Scattered rainfall over the past weekend did little to slow worsening drought stress on Iowa crops, according to this week’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress and Condition Report. Farmers had an average of 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 18, which mainly consisted of cutting hay and spraying fields. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “As drought and abnormally dry conditions continue across Iowa, widespread weekend rainfall throughout most of the state was welcomed by farmers. While scattered storms are possible this weekend, the official start to summer this week will coincide with a stretch of hot and dry days. Longer term outlooks are showing a return to near-normal rainfall as we enter a critical period for crop growth.” Corn condition ratings declined to 59 percent good to excellent, and soybean conditions fell to 56 percent good to excellent. Topsoil moisture conditions rated 70 percent short to very short and 30 percent adequate, while no area of the state is experiencing a surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions rated 64 percent short to very short, 35 percent adequate, and only one percent surplus. The full Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
Drought Stress Worsens In Latest USDA Report
