Crop conditions were unchanged from last week, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service report. For the week ending Aug. 25, Iowa farmers had 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, primarily cutting and baling hay and preparing for the fall harvest. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “With the Farm Progress Show kicking off in central Iowa, much of the state will receive a blast of heat followed by cooler weather as we head into September. This stretch of unseasonably dry conditions is providing a nice window for farmers to bale hay, chop silage, and begin to seed cover crops.” Corn conditions held at 77 percent good to excellent. Corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 90 percent, six days behind last year but a day ahead of average. About 45 percent of the corn crop reached the dent stage or beyond, three days behind last year. Mature corn measured at four percent. Soybean conditions were rated 77 percent good to excellent, as pod settings reached 90 percent, nine days behind last year and three days behind the average. Soybeans coloring reached five percent, four days behind last year and two days behind the five-year average. Topsoil moisture rated 26 percent short to very short, 72 percent adequate, and two percent surplus, while subsoil moisture measured 23 percent short to very short, 75 percent adequate, and two percent surplus. The complete Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
