March 19, 2024

Iowa corn, soybean crop in excellent condition

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented Monday on the weekly Iowa crop progress and condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.

“Crop conditions remain very good with 78 percent of the corn crop and 74 percent of soybeans remaining in good to excellent condition with maturity at or ahead of the five-year average.  The moderate temperatures forecast for this week will also help reduce stress on livestock,” Northey said.

The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA's site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia. 

Harvest advanced 20 percentage points or more in Iowa for alfalfa hay and oats for grain during the week ending July 27, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Declining from last week, topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.

Eighty-five percent of the corn acreage was at or beyond the silking stage, just over 2 weeks ahead of the previous year and almost 1 week ahead of the five-year average. Corn in the dough stage reached 14 percent, 7 points ahead of normal. Seventy-eight percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition.

Soybean progress advanced to 82 percent blooming or beyond, 10 days ahead of last year and just ahead of average. Forty-one percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, well ahead of last year’s 12 percent.

Seventy-four percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week.

With 94 percent of the oat acreage having turned color, oat harvest for grain was 44 percent complete, 1 percentage point ahead of last year but 15 percentage points behind normal. Seventy-four percent of the oat acreage was reported in good to excellent condition.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 74 percent complete, 2 percentage points ahead of the previous year but 5 points behind the five-year average. Some farmers started cutting their third crop of alfalfa hay during the week.

Sixty-eight percent of all hay was rated in good to excellent condition.

Pasture condition decreased to 71 percent good to excellent. Stress on livestock was reported as minimal.