Northey comments on Iowa Crop and weather report

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.  The report is released weekly from April through October.
“Planting has been slowed by the rains but farmers have been able to get in 88 percent of the corn and 43 percent of the soybean acres.  Although only a few days were fit to be in the field and the state saw cooler temperatures last week, we’ve been able to maintain progress above average,” Northey said.
The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia.  The report summary follows here:
CROP REPORT
Wet and cold conditions across much of Iowa slowed field work or even brought it to a standstill for the week ending May 15, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were just 2.2 days suitable for fieldwork. There were some reports of frost in low-lying areas.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Similar to last week, the western third of Iowa reported the largest percentages of surplus and adequate subsoil moisture levels.
Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop has been planted, a day behind last year, but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Farmers in north central and central Iowa are close to completion with 97 percent or more of the corn crop planted. Fifty-one percent of corn has emerged, 5 days ahead of the average. Forty-three percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, 2 days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of soybeans emerged. Oats emerged reached 94 percent, 6 days ahead of the previous year and 9 days ahead of the average. Oat condition was rated 78 percent good to excellent.
Hay condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent; benefitting from the added moisture during the week. Livestock conditions were reported as mostly normal although feedlots were muddy.
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
By Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Wet and slightly warmer than normal weather prevailed across Iowa from Sunday (8th) through Wednesday (11th). Rain was widespread on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with about one-half of the week’s total falling on Tuesday. Much cooler weather dominated for the remainder of the reporting week with rain falling over all but far southwest Iowa on Friday (13th). Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday (15th) were dry. A light freeze was reported over parts of northwest Iowa on Saturday (14th) morning with a 30 degree temperature at Sheldon. Freezing weather was more widespread on Sunday (15th) morning, especially across the northeast where Cresco, Decorah and Elkader all reported 27 degree minimums. Tuesday and Wednesday were the warmest days with high temperatures of 79 degrees recorded at Lamoni and Osceola on Tuesday and at Burlington on Wednesday. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged from two degrees below normal southwest to four to six degrees subnormal over the north. Heaviest rains, for the third time in the past four weeks, fell across the west one-third of the state, although there were smaller areas of heavy rain elsewhere (especially east central). Weekly rain totals were above normal over the west one-third of the state, and parts of east central and southeast Iowa. Weekly rain totals varied from 0.31 inches at Eldora to 4.55 inches at Shenandoah. The statewide average precipitation was 1.45 inches while normal for the week is 1.03 inches. Soil temperatures at the four inch depth were averaging in the low fifties north and middle and upper fifties south as of Sunday (15th).

Lake Mills Graphic

204 N. Mill Street
Lake Mills, IA 50450

Office Number: (641) 592-4222
Fax Number: (641) 592-6397

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