Iowa Farmers Ready for Warmer Weather to Help Crops as Dry Conditions Move In

By Cami Koons

Iowa corn, soybeans, oats, and hay crops all rated 80% good or excellent during the latest crop progress and condition report, even as the U.S. Drought Monitor logged most of the state in abnormally dry conditions.

According to the monitor’s Thursday report, 71% of the state is in abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions. Soil moisture conditions, however, remained nearly consistent with last week’s crop report, with around 70% of subsoil and topsoil measured with adequate moisture.

John Gilbert, a Hardin County farmer with a diversified operation, said his fields were “borderline dry” but otherwise in “pretty good shape.” 

“Actually, if there’s a time to be dry, this is the time to be, because it gets the roots down,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert also raises livestock and said despite the drier conditions, his pastures are also in “pretty good shape.” 

Across the state, pasture rated 70% good or excellent, which was a slight decrease from last week’s report. According to the report, a handful of farmers started their second cutting of alfalfa hay during the reporting period, with the first cutting 77% completed across the state. 

Oats in the state continued to progress, with 53% headed and 10% turning color.  

Gilbert said his crops had been “slow coming up” this year due to the colder temperatures, but thankfully he hasn’t had to replant any areas.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported Iowa’s temperatures were “slightly cooler” during the reporting period, but the statewide average temperature was slightly less than one degree below the normal.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the warmer temperatures and rain in the forecast “should give the corn and soybeans a lift.”

“The crops could use some heat, and it looks like it’s on the way,” Naig said. 

Iowans might have noticed some lingering haze in the air this week from the Canadian wildfires, which can reduce solar radiation. 

Glisan reported western Iowa and some parts on the eastern edge of the state saw above-average precipitation during the week, yet other areas of the state logged around a 10th of an inch for the week.

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.