Hot and humid was a consistent theme across the state in the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the week ending Aug. 17, Iowa producers had 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork, which mostly consisted of harvesting oats and hay and limited reports of fungicide and insecticide applications. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “Warm and muggy conditions didn’t deter visitors from enjoying another successful Iowa State Fair. Drier weather in western Iowa broke an eight-week streak of unseasonably wet conditions, and for the first time in over a year, Iowa’s drought map is free of drought and abnormal dryness. The outlook through the end of August suggests cooler temperatures and more seasonal rainfall potential.” Nearly all of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the silking stage, with 78 percent in the dough stage and 27 percent in the dent stage, about even with last year’s progress at this time. Corn condition rated 86 percent good to excellent. Eighty-three percent of soybeans were setting pods, with 82 percent of the crop rated good to excellent. As for moisture conditions, topsoil measured just two percent short to very short, 72 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil rated four percent short to very short, 73 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Find the full report online at www.nass.usda.gov.
