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.
“Before flipping the calendar into a warm first weekend of August, we finished up a particularly wet July for parts of Iowa with several rounds of thunderstorms. With the start of the Iowa State Fair this week, fairgoers can expect much more pleasant weather and temperatures.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Most of the State received rain showers and experienced above average temperatures. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 4, 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, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.
Corn silking hit 92 percent this week, 5 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Fifty-one percent of the corn crop has reached dough stage or beyond, 3 days ahead of the five-year average. Eight percent of the corn crop has reached the dent state. Corn condition was rated at 77 percent good to excellent. Ninety percent of soybeans were blooming, one week behind last year but 1 day ahead of the normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 58 percent, 5 days behind last year and 3 days behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was 76 percent good to excellent. Eighty-five percent of oats have been harvested, 5 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the five-year average.
The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 92 percent complete, 6 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 27 percent, 8 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 72 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 62 percent good to excellent.