Iowa Statewide Precipitation Below Normal for First Time Since Mid-June

By Cami Koons

Last week marked the first time since mid-June that statewide precipitation levels were below normal, while temperatures were 2-4°F above normal for the period, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan.

Despite the diminished precipitation levels, soil moisture remains high. Crops rated highly during the Aug. 11–17 reporting period, though developments for corn and soybean acres are slightly behind the five-year average, according to the crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Twenty-seven percent of corn has reached the dent stage, one day behind the average. Nearly 80% of Iowa corn is in the dough stage, making the crop three days behind the average. The crop continues to rate well, however with 30% of corn acres rated excellent for the reporting period. 

All but 4% of soybean acres have started blooming across the state and 83% of soybean acres are setting pods, which is four days behind normal. Soybeans also rated well, with 60% of the crop good and 22% excellent. 

Agronomists and plant pathologists have noted this crop season has good conditions for sudden death syndrome (SDS), a fungal disease that can impact soybean yields. Cases of SDS have cropped up in most of the state but the total acreage impacted has not been calculated. 

Oat harvest is 91% complete across the state, and 65% of alfalfa hay acres have had a third cutting. 

Soil moisture conditions improved slightly from the previous reporting period, with a small decrease in the percent of surplus soil moisture. Overall, 72% of topsoil moisture conditions and 73% of subsoil moisture conditions were adequate. 

North central parts of the state continue to have the wettest soils, with 55% of topsoil rated surplus.

Glisan noted in the report that portions of eastern Iowa had above-average precipitation during the reporting period, but as a whole, the state average was eight-tenths of an inch, a little more than one-tenth below the normal. 

Some areas of the state recorded temperatures as high as 16°F above normal, though the average temperature for the period, at 74.8°F, was just 2.8°F above the normal. 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the “warm and muggy conditions didn’t deter visitors from enjoying another successful Iowa State Fair.” 

Naig, in a statement, also noted that Iowa had no drought conditions, per the U.S. Drought Monitor map, for the first time in more than a year. 

For farmers in southwest Iowa, where drought has been most persistent, the rain has been a welcome reprieve. Dale Maassen, who farms near Avoca, said he has had more rain since June than he got all of last year. 

“Right now, I can’t complain,” Maassen said. “It’s the best I’ve seen in quite a while.”

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