Temperatures Normal Across Iowa, but Conditions Dry as Harvest Season Wanes

By Cami Koons

Temperatures across the state of Iowa were near the climatological normal, though precipitation was below average as parts of the state slid into dry conditions for the close of harvest season, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 

The IDALS weekly weather report also noted Iowa experienced its first widespread frost during the Oct. 20 through Oct. 26 reporting period. 

Crop progress and condition data, typically shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is unavailable during the current government shutdown. 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the state typically has less than 10% of soybeans left to harvest and less than 25% of corn acres still in the fields by the last week of October. 

“The dry conditions have allowed farmers to push that pace, with farmers in some parts of the state wrapping up harvest and transitioning to other field work,” Naig said in a news release. 

State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported Iowa had “unseasonably dry” conditions with a statewide average of just 0.01 inch, while the normal is 0.63 inch. Osage reported the most precipitation, at 0.44 inch, during the reporting period. 

According to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor, dry conditions have continued to spread across portions of the state, with 64% of the state in abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions. 

Glisan said that while Iowa has had unseasonably warm temperatures the past six reporting periods, conditions were “near normal” across most of the state. The average statewide temperature was 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the period, which is on par with the climatological normal. 

Agronomists with Iowa Soybean Association reported that many farmers are finished with harvest, or nearing the end. According to the latest “walking rows” report from the association, yields have been variable this year due to disease pressure in corn crops and dry harvest conditions that had some impact on soybean weight. 

Farmers Urged to Plant Fall Cover crops

As harvest winds down and farmers look to other field work, Naig and Gov. Kim Reynolds urged farmers to plant fall cover crops and participate in the state’s Crop Insurance Discount Program. 

Through the program, farmers can apply for a $5 per acre discount on their crop insurance premiums for the acres they seeded with fall cover crops. 

A news release from IDALS said the program is part of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, which aims to reduce the number of nutrients that end up in Iowa waterways and eventually down to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Cover crops have been a focus of the nutrient reduction strategy and in 2023, farmers planted nearly 4 million acres of cover crops.

“We’ve seen strong interest in our cover crop cost-share programs this summer and fall, and we anticipate just as much enthusiasm for our Crop Insurance Discount Program when the online sign-up opens in December,” Naig said in the release. “This innovative program has been effective in advancing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy by boosting cover crop adoption while helping farmers reduce their crop insurance costs.” 

Sign up for the program runs from Dec. 1 through Jan. 23. IDALS said farmers can sign up to receive notifications and reminders about the program online. Applications can be submitted at CleanWaterIowa.org or with crop insurance agents. 

This is the ninth year IDALS has offered the cover crop insurance incentive and to date, nearly 2,000 Iowa farmers have enrolled more than 1.4 million acres of cover crops, according to IDALS. 

“This voluntary and innovative program not only encourages cover crop adoption but also offers farmers a discount on their crop insurance premiums,” Reynolds said in the release. “Our farmers understand the connection between soil health and crop production, and know what’s best for the fields they plant.”

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.