Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today 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.

“Widespread showers and thunderstorms, along with unseasonably cool temperatures, brought relief to farmers and moisture stressed crops across Iowa last week,” said Secretary Naig. “As corn tassels continue to emerge, thunderstorms remain in the forecast over the next several days along with near-seasonal temperatures.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Western Iowa was the recipient of some much-needed precipitation this week and farmers, statewide, had 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 9, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting hay and spraying crops. Some reports were received of farmers beginning to harvest oats for grain.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 15 percent very short, 42 percent short, 42 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 19 percent very short, 45 percent short, 35 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn silking hit 22 percent this week, 6 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Some reports were received of corn starting to dough. Corn condition remained steady at 61 percent good to excellent. Forty-six percent of soybeans were blooming, 5 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of the average. Soybeans setting pods reached 7 percent, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of normal. Soybean condition rated 52 percent good to excellent. Sixty-seven percent of oats were turning color, 8 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Oat condition improved slightly with 52 percent good to excellent.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 58 percent complete, 9 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the average. Hay condition improved slightly to 35 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 24 percent good to excellent. Livestock producers continued to supplement with hay as pasture conditions remained below average.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Showers and thunderstorms produced widespread rainfall through the reporting period with pockets of near-normal to above-average totals in western, northeast and southeast Iowa; some stations measured one to three inches of above-normal amounts. The rest of the state had rainfall deficits in the 0.50-1.00-inch range. Temperatures were also unseasonably cool with negative departures of up to seven degrees northwest; the statewide average temperature was 68.8 degrees, 5.5 degrees below normal.

Showers cleared eastern Iowa through Sunday (2nd) afternoon as mostly clear conditions and highs in the low to mid-80s were reported across much of the state. Calm to light, variable winds continued overnight into Monday (3rd) with morning lows in the low to mid-60s and reports of patchy fog southwest and southeast. Southwesterly winds increased through the day with daytime temperatures rising into the upper 80s and low 90s under sunny skies. Spotty thunderstorms, some severe-warned, fired in northwestern Iowa later in the afternoon before dissipating after sunset. Another round formed after midnight in northeastern Iowa. Rain totals at 7:00 am on Tuesday (4th) were above 0.50 inch at 10 stations with Oelwein (Fayette County) observing 1.15 inches while Strawberry Point (Clayton County) measured 1.29 inches. Showers associated with an approaching low-pressure system pushed into the northwest corner just before noon where daytime highs held in the 70s, while upper 80s and low 90s were observed farther east. As the low’s attendant cold front moved over the Nebraska border, severe thunderstorms formed but lost strength over the next few hours as fireworks streaked across the sky. Widespread rain totals above 0.25 inch were reported in western Iowa with higher amounts ranging from 0.73 inch at Rock Rapids (Lyon County) to 2.26 inches in Mapleton (Monona County). Thunderstorms dissipated as the front moved through central Iowa into Wednesday (5th) morning but refired stronger storms along the Iowa-Illinois border in the early afternoon; Burlington (Des Moines County) registered 0.79 inch while Salem (Henry County) collected 1.11 inches. Northerly winds built in behind the front along with cooler high temperatures in the 70s.

Thursday (6th) started with morning lows in the mid-50s northwest to mid-60s southeast under clear skies with a light, northerly wind. Partly cloudy skies developed into the afternoon hours with pleasant highs in the 70s. Clouds increased over western Iowa close to sunrise on Friday (7th) as another low-pressure center approached from Nebraska. A broad area of showers and thunderstorms developed and pushed across Iowa for the remainder of the day. Temperatures were unseasonably cool statewide with upper 50s to mid-60s west to east. Most of Iowa’s stations reported measurable rainfall with widespread amounts in the 0.25-0.75-inch range in western and southern Iowa; peripheral stations measured a tenth or two with a statewide average of 0.23 inch. Burlington and Salem again received totals over an inch, registering 1.65 inches and 1.97 inches, respectively. Fog formed overnight into Saturday (8th) as winds shifted to the northwest with daytime conditions reaching into the mid to upper 70s under mostly sunny skies. Winds died down and became variable after sunset with isolated clouds moving across southern Iowa. Sunday (9th) morning saw a wide range of temperatures from spotty upper 40s in northwest Iowa to low 60s in eastern Iowa.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at several north-central stations to 3.11 inches in Salem. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.64 inch, while the normal is 1.07 inches. Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the week’s high temperature of 96 degrees on the 3rd, 11 degrees above normal. Vinton (Benton County) reported the week’s low temperature of 42 degrees on the 7th, 18 degrees below normal.

Lee County Fair Beef Show Results

 

Champion Derby Beef Live –  Aaden Anderson

Reserve Champion Derby Beef Live – Gavin Hasenclever

Champion Derby Beef Carcass – Aaden Anderson

Reserve Champion Derby Beef Carcass – Aaden Anderson

1^st Place Rate of Gain –  Avery Peterson

2^nd Place Rate of Gain –  Henry Steffensmeier

 

Champion Chianina Female – Zikayla Houtz

Champion Shorthorn Female – Henry Steffensmeier

Champion Simmental Female – James Denning

Champion Commercial Female – Jaren Gerdes

Supreme Champion Beef Female – Jarden Gerdes

Reserve Champion Beef Female – Henry Steffensmeier

3^rd Overall Beef Female – James Denning

4^th Overall Beef Female – Mason Overberg

5^th Overall Beef Female – Zikayla Houtz

 

Junior Bucket Bottle Champion – Aiden McDowell

Intermediate Bucket Bottle Champion – Arabella McDowell

Senior Bucket Bottle Champion – Isabella Patton

Senior Bucket Bottle Reserve Champion – Joseph Krebill

 

Champion Market Heifer – James Seyb

Reserve Champion Market Heifer – Jonathan Seyb

Champion Return Bucket Bottle Calf – James Seyb

Grand Champion Market Beef – Blake Mohrfeld

Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef – Emma Mohrfeld

3^rd Overall Market Beef – James Denning

4^th Overall Market Beef – Henry Steffensmeier

5^th Overall Market Beef – Aiden McDowell

 

Advanced Showmanship – Henry Steffensmeier

Champion Senior Showperson – Aaden Anderson

Champion Intermediate Showperson – Emma Mohrfeld

Champion Junior Showperson – Jaren Gerdes

 

The 2023 Henry County Fair Horse Show was on Sunday, July 9^th, and the winners are in. The Grand Champion Senior Horse and Rider is Hailey Nichting. Zenlynn Lee is the Reserve Grand Champion Senior Horse and Rider, who also won Senior Sportsman award, while the Junior Sportsman award and Reserve Grand Champion Junior Horse and Rider goes to Maison Nelson. The Grand Champion Junior Horse and Rider is Quintrie Lee.

Thanks to our donors: Harriet Waters, Henry Co. Veterinary Association, JIJ Pleasure Horses, Shiloh Outfitters and Hometown Veterinary Care. Thank you to the Horse Committee: Pete Nelson and to the Horse Show Helpers and the Horse Club Leaders!

For the Swine Show at the Lee County Fair, Haley Lampe won champion crossbred breeding gilt. The purebred breeding gilt champion goes to Ella Weisinger. Korben Moeller was the champion for the champion competitive swine barrow.

A big thankyou to some of our sponsors, The Drake, Thompson Farm Supply, Tri State Outdoor, West Point Care Center, Armstrong Tractor, B&B Propane, and Bell Auction Company.

 

Champion Crossbred Breeding Gilt – Haley Lampe

Reserve Champion Crossbred Breeding Gilt – Ella Weisinger

 

Champion Purebred Breeding Gilt – Ella Weisinger

Reserve Champion Breeding Gilt – Jaren Gerdes

Champion Breeding Gilt – Ella Weisinger

Reserve Champion Breeding Gilt – Haley Lampe

3^rd Overall Breeding Gilt – Ella Weisinger

4^th Overall Breeding Gilt – Riley Stuecker

5^th Overall Breeding Gilt – Jaren Gerdes

 

Champion Derby Gilt – Kodi Moeller

Champion Derby Barrow – Kodi Moeller

Reserve Champion Derby Swine – Korben Moeller

Champion Derby Carcass – Adelyn Kruse

Reserve Champion Derby Carcass – Taylor Jones

 

1^st Place Rate of Gain – Cooper Jones

2^nd Place Rate of Gain – Zoey Jones

 

Champion Competitive Swine Barrow – Korben Moeller

Reserve Champion Swine Barrow – Ross Linder

 

Champion Competitive Swine Gilt – Kaylee Moeller

Champion Competitive Swine Live – Kaylee Moeller

Reserve Champion Competitive Swine Live – Korben Moeller

Champion Junior Competitive Swine Overall – Kalyee Moeller

Champion Intermediate Competitive Swine Overall – Korben Moeller

Champion Senior Competitive Swine Overall – Jayln Hawk

 

Champion Market Gilt – Ella Weisinger

Reserve Champion Market Gilt – Cameron Nabors

Champion Market Barrow – Ella Weisinger

Reserve Champion Market Barrow – Haley Lampe

 

Champion Purebred Market Swine – Jaren Gerdes

Reserve Champion Purebred Market Swine – Ward Fraise

Champion Market Swine Carcass – Alex Schwartz

Reserve Champion Market Swine Carcass – Jaren Gerdes

Champion Market Swine – Ella Weisinger

Reserve Champion Market Swine – Ella Weisinger

3^rd Overall Market Swine – Riley Stuecker

4^th Overall Market Swine – Haley Lampe

5^th Overall Market Swine – Jaren Gerdes

Supreme Champion Swine – Ella Weisinger

 

Champion Senior Showperson – Adelyn Lampe

Champion Intermediate Showperson – Jenna Schwartz

Champion Junior Showperson – Ella Weisinger

Champion Advanced Showperson -Haley Lampe

 

On July 7th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of the financial assistance application process for eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide this assistance. Since the law’s passage, USDA has worked diligently to design the program in accordance with significant stakeholder input.

“The opening of the application process is an important step in delivering on our commitment of providing financial assistance to those who faced discrimination in USDA farm lending, as swiftly and efficiently as possible,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA will continue to work with our national vendor partners and community-based organizations to make sure eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have clear information about what is available to them, how to apply, and where to obtain assistance with their questions at each step of the way.”

The program website, 22007apply.gov, is now open. The website includes an English- and Spanish-language application that applicants can download or submit via an e-filing portal, information on how to obtain technical assistance in-person or virtually, and additional resources and details about the program.

Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in its farm loan programs prior to January 1, 2021 and/or are currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that was the subject of USDA discrimination that occurred prior to January 1, 2021, are eligible for this program.

To apply, borrowers have the option to apply via the e-filing portal at 22007apply.gov or submit paper-based forms via mail or in-person delivery to the program’s local offices. The application process will be open from July 7 to October 31, 2023. Under the planned timeline, applications will be reviewed in November and December, with payments reaching recipients soon thereafter. Importantly, applicants should know that the application process is not on a first come, first served, basis. All applications received or postmarked before the October 31 deadline will be considered.

To support producers throughout the application process, USDA is ensuring that organizations with extensive experience conducting outreach to farm organizations are able to support individuals who may be eligible for

the program. These groups include AgrAbility, Farmer Veteran Coalition, Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Intertribal Agriculture Council, Land Loss Prevention Program, National Young Farmers Coalition, and Rural Coalition.

 

 

Vendors operating four regional hubs are also providing technical assistance and working closely with these and other community-based organizations to conduct outreach using digital and grassroots strategies, to ensure potential applicants are informed about the program and have the opportunity to apply. These hubs are operating a network of brick-and-mortar program offices and will conduct extensive outreach about the program. Windsor Group serves farmers in the eastern regions of the U.S. and Analytic Acquisitions serves the western regions. A national administrator, Midtown Group, is responsible for program oversight and integrity, and will lead a national call-center, operate the application website – 22007apply.gov, which is now open – and review and process applications and payments. All vendors have experience in professional services, supporting government contracts, and complex program operations.

On March 1, 2023, USDA shared initial details on how the Section 22007 program will work, including that the Inflation Reduction Act specifies the Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for providing this assistance through qualified nongovernmental entities, under standards set by USDA. USDA entered into agreements with vendors and cooperators in May.

In addition to the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) opening today, the Inflation Reduction Act also created several other programs that are helping USDA rebuild trust, address systemic issues and improve service to people who may have been underserved by USDA in the past. Information about USDA’s equity agenda and progress is available at www.usda.gov/equity.

In standing up this program, USDA has become aware of some lawyers and groups spreading misleading information about the discrimination assistance process, pressuring people to sign retainer agreements, and asking people to fill out forms with private and sensitive information. As of today, the official application process has begun and filling out an application is free.

No attorneys’ fees will be paid to applicants or their counsel by USDA or by any other agency or department of the United States. The amount of financial assistance will not be increased for those claimants who are represented by an attorney. Applicants are not required to retain an attorney. USDA, the national administrator, and the regional hub vendors will neither recommend that any applicant retain counsel or retain a specific attorney or law firm, nor discourage an applicant from obtaining counsel or using a specific attorney or law firm. For more information, read our fact sheet about the program timeline and ways to protect against possible scams.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris

Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.