Iowa Crop Conditions Overall Good Following Hot, Wet Week

By Cami Koons

Corn rated nearly 90% good to excellent during the reporting period from July 21–July 27, while wet conditions limited farmers’ activities in the field, according to the latest crop progress and condition report. 

Iowa crops continue to progress slightly ahead of schedule while above-average temperatures and precipitation caused humid conditions and in some cases, caused excessive soil moisture. 

Across the state, topsoil moisture went from 21% surplus last week to 30% surplus this week. Subsoil moisture conditions also increased to 24% surplus, up from 17% last week. 

According to State Climatologist Justin Glisan, the weekly average precipitation was 1.58 inches for the reporting period, which is 0.61 inches above the normal. Some regions of the state, however, received as much as 7.2 inches during the reporting period and southeastern Iowa had between 3 and 5 inches.  

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said with only a couple of days left in July, it “could rank among the top 10 wettest Julys on record.”

“Last week was hot and muggy as a heat dome settled over the Midwest, producing some sweltering heat and humidity,” Naig said in a statement. 

The average temperature for the week, at 77.5°F, was more than 4° above normal. Temperatures throughout the period were 2–6° above the 30-year average.

Tim Kaldenberg grows corn, soybeans and raises cattle north of Albia and said his farm has had good growing conditions and has not been hit by the “extreme rainfall” that other areas have had. 

“We even hate to say this out loud, but it has been very nice growing conditions,” Kaldenberg said. 

Kaldenberg said in an interview with Iowa Capital Dispatch July 22, the crops in his region “had the nicest looking grow.” 

“We’re so used to that not being the case,” Kaldenberg said. “So we’re just very thankful for that this year.” 

Kaldenberg and his family were awarded the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in early July for their operation’s dedications to soil health, water quality and community engagement. 

Kaldenberg said the majority of his corn has been pollinated and his soybeans are flowering. He also said pasture conditions were good, and the main challenge he’s had is getting his hay to dry. 

This is in line with conditions across the state. Eighty-four percent of corn is silking and 34% of corn acres have reached the dough stage across the state, according to the report produced by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. 

Soybeans also rated 82% good to excellent for the reporting period and 81% of soybean acres were blooming. Soybeans are five days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average in terms of setting pods, as 52% of the crop across the state has reached that stage. 

According to the report, nearly half of Iowa oat acres have been harvested, with higher percentages of harvest completed in southern regions of the state. 

Oats rated 83% good to excellent and hay rated 86% good to excellent. 

Across the state 87% of alfalfa hay acres have had a second cutting and 28% have undergone a third cutting. 

Pasture conditions also rated well at 82% good to excellent, though according to the report, some livestock stress was reported on account of the heat and humidity.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: [email protected]. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.