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.
Secretary Naig. “National Farm Safety and Health Week is a timely reminder for all farmers and drivers to do our part to ensure a safe and productive harvest season for everyone in the field, around the farm and on the road. Given the stress and long hours of harvest as well as challenges in the ag economy, it’s also important for farmers and those involved in agriculture to prioritize their mental health and well-being.”
Iowa experienced hot and dry conditions this week. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 15, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included chopping corn silage and harvesting corn and soybeans.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 38 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 32 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Corn in the dent stage or beyond reached 85 percent this week, 8 days behind last year and 2 days behind the five-year average. Corn mature reached 41 percent, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the average. Corn harvested for grain began this week at 2 percent. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 72 percent, 3 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean dropping leaves reached 31 percent, 3 days behind last year. The soybean harvest began this week at 1 percent. Soybean condition was 77 percent good to excellent.
The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 96 percent, 9 days behind last year but 1 week ahead of the five-year average. Pasture condition fell 11 percentage points to 52 percent good to excellent.
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.