Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented Monday on the weekly Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.
“Unfortunately the strong storms that rolled through Southeast Iowa caused some crop and property damage. Otherwise much of the state is in good shape with planting mostly completed and farmers now focused on scouting fields, spraying and in-season fertilizer applications,” Northey said.
The report summary follows here:
In spite of rains during the week, corn and soybean progress remained ahead of normal in Iowa for the week ending June 8, 2014, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Farmers in southwest Iowa were concerned about damage caused by the June 3rd storm. Other activities for the week included spraying, herbicide application, and field side dressing.
Recent precipitation increased soil moisture levels. Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Southwest and south central Iowa were the wettest with over 30 percent of topsoil in surplus condition.
Ninety-eight percent of the corn acreage has emerged, 18 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the five year average. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. With soybean planting nearing completion, 87 percent of the crop has emerged, 3 weeks in front of last year and just over a week ahead of normal. The season’s first soybean condition rating came in at 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Twenty-four percent of the oat crop has headed, ahead of last year’s 14 percent but behind average by 7 percentage points. Oat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.
The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 42 percent complete, 33 percentage points ahead of the previous year but 9 points less than average. Hay condition was rated 0 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Pasture condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 48 percent good and 16 percent excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as average.