DES MOINES — Iowa’s corn and soybean crops remained in strong condition as farmers endured extreme heat, record-setting humidity and rainfall totals that varied dramatically across the state during the week ending August 2, 2026.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report showed 80 percent of the corn crop and 78 percent of soybeans rated in good-to-excellent condition.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said July ended with widespread rainfall and a welcome reprieve from oppressive conditions.
“July will be remembered for its warm temperatures and high dew points, but it ended with widespread rainfall and a welcome break from the heat and humidity,” Naig said. “As we begin August and continue the ramp-up to the Iowa State Fair, the outlook calls for warmer conditions with better chances of rainfall. Crops on the western side of the state could use the moisture as the growing season continues.”
Farmers had 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared with 3.8 days during the corresponding period last year.
Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 25 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 27 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
Corn silking reached 93 percent, placing the crop two percentage points ahead of last year. Forty-eight percent of the corn had reached the dough stage, two points behind last year, while 4 percent had reached the dent stage, four points behind last year.
Soybeans blooming reached 88 percent, unchanged from last year. Sixty-one percent of the crop was setting pods, two percentage points behind the previous year.
Iowa’s oat harvest continued well ahead of schedule, reaching 87 percent complete. That was 25 percentage points ahead of last year. Oat condition was rated 82 percent good to excellent, while pastures were rated 67 percent good to excellent.
The week began with dangerous combinations of heat and humidity. Numerous Iowa airports recorded exceptionally high dew points as afternoon temperatures climbed into the 90s.
Burlington Municipal Airport recorded an air temperature of 92 degrees and an 85-degree dew point, producing a heat index of 121 degrees. Ames reached a heat index of 124 degrees as its temperature hit 92 and its dew point climbed to 86.
Overnight temperatures also remained unusually high. The statewide average low heading into Monday, July 27, was 75 degrees — 12 degrees above normal — while dense fog developed across Northern Iowa.
Little Sioux recorded Iowa’s highest temperature of the week at 102 degrees on July 27. The reading was 16 degrees above normal and marked the state’s highest temperature of 2026 so far.
Conditions changed as a cold front crossed the state, bringing lower humidity and eventually widespread rain to eastern Iowa. More than 75 reporting stations collected at least one inch of rain as thunderstorms moved through late in the week.
Cedar Rapids received 2.51 inches, while Anamosa collected 4.15 inches. Additional heavy rain pushed Dubuque’s total to 3.65 inches and Manchester’s to more than six inches.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from just 0.05 inch at Spirit Lake to 6.93 inches at Manchester. Sixty-five stations received at least two inches of rain.
The statewide weekly average was 1.31 inches, exceeding the normal weekly amount of 0.90 inch. Despite the substantial rainfall in eastern Iowa, western portions of the state remained comparatively dry.
Iowa’s average temperature for the week was 76.6 degrees, which was 3.6 degrees above normal. Emmetsburg reported the week’s lowest temperature at 52 degrees on July 28, which was 11 degrees below normal.