Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“Severe thunderstorms early last week gave way to a cooler and quieter string of days as corn pollination is underway across the state,” said Secretary Naig. “Temperatures look to warm up through the week for county fairgoers.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Most of the State received little rainfall and experienced below average temperatures. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 21, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and applying fungicides.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.
Corn silking reached 68 percent, 1 day behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn crop at the dough stage reached 18 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn condition was rated at 75 percent good to excellent. Soybean crop blooming reached 69 percent, 5 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 25 percent, 2 days behind last year and 1 day behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was 74 percent good to excellent. Oats turning color reached 89 percent, 2 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of the five-year average. The oat harvest for grain reached 44 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and the five-year average. Oat condition was 76 percent good to excellent.
The state’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 75 percent complete, 5 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay began at 6 percent, 4 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent.