Aug. 15 – 21, 2022

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 22, 2022) – 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.

“Iowa experienced cooler temperatures and much-needed rainfall over the final week of the State Fair,” said Secretary Naig. “While showers and thunderstorms brought heavier totals across the drought region, we need several months of above-average precipitation to relieve the most intense drought conditions. The rain received last week was welcomed as stressed soybeans continue to set and fill pods.”

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

Crop Report

Widespread rain across the State resulted in 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 21, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting corn for silage, cutting hay, and applying pesticides.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 18 percent very short, 30 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Thanks to widespread rain during the week, less than half of the topsoil is considered short to very short compared to 53 percent a week ago. Subsoil moisture condition rated 21 percent very short, 33 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Corn silking or beyond was 97 percent with 84 percent of the corn crop in dough stage or beyond, 5 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Thirty percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dent stage, 5 days behind last year and 1 day behind average. Some of the corn crop has started to mature at 1 percent. Corn condition remained 66 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of soybeans were blooming with 88 percent of the soybean crop setting pods, 8 days behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. Two percent of the soybeans were turning color. Iowa’s soybean condition was 62 percent good to excellent. Oats harvested for grain reached 91 percent, 8 days behind last year and 10 days behind the average.

Fifty-three percent of the State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay was complete. All hay condition rose slightly to 48 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 33 percent good to excellent. Grasshoppers are a concern in some areas.

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

Unseasonably cool conditions greeted Iowa throughout the State Fair’s final week of festivities. Temperatures were anywhere from one to four degrees below normal with a statewide average temperature of 69.2 degrees, 2.9 degrees below normal. A more active storm track also brought widespread rainfall statewide with above-average totals, on the order of two to three inches, across parts of the western drought region; this was the first reporting period since early July to have above-average statewide rainfall.

Cloud cover temporarily decreased over western Iowa through Sunday (14th) afternoon as another weather disturbance approached. Daytime temperatures held in the low 80s southwest with low to mid 70s across the rest of Iowa. Rain showers moved into northwestern Iowa through the evening hours before a more widespread shield of showers and thunderstorms pushed in overnight and for the majority of Monday (15th). Clouds and rain held daytime temperatures in the 60s in western Iowa while low to mid 70s were found in eastern Iowa where skies were mostly sunny. Slow-moving thunderstorms formed in southwestern Iowa into the late night and early morning hours of Tuesday (16th). Measurable rain fell over much of Iowa’s southwestern two-thirds with event totals over 0.20 inch for most stations; more than 20 stations measured at least an inch with Shenandoah (Page County) reporting 2.23 inches and a statewide average of 0.39 inch. Winds shifted to an easterly direction as skies partially cleared through the afternoon with highs reaching into the upper 70s and low 80s. Clear skies and light winds led to a chilly and foggy start on Wednesday (17th) with morning lows in the mid to upper 50s at most stations; the statewide average low was 57 degrees, five degrees below normal. Pleasant conditions persisted through the day with upper 70s and low 80s under partly cloudy skies.

Starry skies were visible into Thursday (18th) as a light southerly wind developed. Morning lows were in the mid to upper 50s with patchy fog at some stations. Winds swinging to the southwesterly direction increased relative humidity as a fall-like low pressure center pushed into northwestern Iowa. Strong to severe thunderstorms formed along the low’s attendant cold front into the evening as high temperatures pushed into the 80s; heavier downpours were reported in stronger storms with localized reports of tennis ball-sized hail in Sioux County. The line continued southeast into central Iowa before losing steam into Friday (19th) morning over the southeast. Rain totals at 7:00 am were heaviest in northwest and north-central Iowa with 1.04 inches at Iowa Falls (Hardin County) and 2.58 inches at Estherville Municipal Airport (Emmet County). Many stations measured between 0.25-0.75 inch with lighter totals east. The low center continued to spin in spotty thunderstorms for the rest of the day over much of the state. A fast-developing severe thunderstorm fired directly over the Des Moines (Polk County) metro around 2:30 pm, producing an extremely isolated pocket of golf to tennis ball-sized hail in West Des Moines and Clive; this hail event produced damage to multiple vehicles, schools and retail stores as well as heavy rain and vivid lightning at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Several other severe thunderstorms formed later in the evening over eastern Iowa. Most of Iowa’s stations observed measurable rainfall with higher totals under stronger and slow-moving cells; several Des Moines stations reported from 1.68 to 2.46 inches. The low continued to move across the Great Lakes into Saturday (20th) producing enough localized atmospheric spin to create funnel clouds in eastern Iowa. Temperatures held in the 70s statewide as rain showers diminished into Sunday (21st) morning. Several eastern stations measured totals from 0.55 inch at Le Claire Lock and Dam (Scott County) to 1.18 inches in DeWitt.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.14 inch in Mount Pleasant (Henry County) to 3.42 inches in Estherville (Emmet County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.12 inches while the normal is 0.91 inch. Several southeastern Iowa stations reported the week’s high temperature of 88 degrees on the 19th, on average five degrees above normal. Knoxville (Marion County) reported the week’s low temperature of 50 degrees on the 17th, 13 degrees below normal.

A familiar face returns to the Mount Pleasant School Board to fill vacancy on the board.  Melinda Huisinga has been appointed to finish out the term of Willy Amos. The board met Monday night and voted to appoint Melinda as the Director for District Two.  Amos had to give up the seat when he moved to another residence in the school district.

Thomas Stephanie, age 46, of Washington, Iowa, was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The charges against Stephanie stem from an investigation which began in June 2022.  According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Stephanie provided false statements to an insurer in connection with a workers’ compensation insurance claim.  Stephanie received insurance benefits due to these false statements.

On August 10th, 2022, Stephanie was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail.  Stephanie posted a $5,000 bond and was released.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

No additional information will be provided at this time.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

On August 20th, 2022, at approximately 3:47 p.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received report of a disturbance in the 1100-grid of Delaware Ave in rural Wayland.

An investigation was conducted which resulted in the arrest Cori Miller, 32 of Wayland, for a No Contact Order violation and Criminal Mischief in the 5^th Degree.

On August 20, 2022, at approximately 7:58 P.M., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on the 2200 grid of Dakota Avenue, in Mount Pleasant for a traffic violation.

Upon speaking with the driver, later identified as Jesse A. Rutherford, 34, of Washington, Iowa, and the passenger, later identified as Dustin E. West, 32, of Albia, Iowa, it was determined both parties currently held a suspended driving status through the State of Iowa. Furthermore, Jesse held two active warrants through the State of Iowa.

After further investigation, a search was conducted on the vehicle where items found included amounts of Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia.

Resulting from the investigation Jesse was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance – 3^rd or Subsequent Offense (Class D Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor), and Driving While License Suspended (Simple Misdemeanor). Dustin was arrested Possession of Controlled Substance – 3^rd or Subsequent Offense (Class D Felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor)

Henry County Public Health wants you to know that they have the recently approved Novavax COVID-19 vaccine as an option in addition to Moderna and Pfizer. Novavax is authorized for people 18 years and older and is a 2 dose primary series given 3-8 weeks apart. It is not currently authorized to be used as a booster. The main difference is that Novavax is not a mRNA vaccine like Moderna and Pfizer. Novavax uses protein subunit vaccine technology, similar to the Hepatitis B, HPV, and shingles vaccines. For those who were concerned about the mRNA vaccines being developed so quickly, the Novavax vaccine is a type of vaccine that has been widely used for decades. The Novavax vaccine also offers an option to people who may have an allergic reaction to mRNA vaccines.

“We continue to strongly urge everyone who is eligible and has not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Shelley Van Dorin, Public Health Director. “Anyone with questions about the vaccines should speak with their physician or give us a call and talk to one of our nurses.” Henry County Public Health is currently giving COVID-19 vaccines on Thursdays from 9-3:30 but that schedule may change in September. To view current clinic dates please visit HealthyHenryCounty.org/covid, call 319-385-0779, or follow Facebook.com/HealthyHenryCounty. There is no cost for any of the COVID-19 vaccines.