DES MOINES — Iowa farmers closed out August with corn and soybean conditions holding strong as warmer weather accelerated crop development across much of the state.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report shows both corn and soybeans rated 77 percent good to excellent for the week ending August 30.
Farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, slightly below the 6.3 days available during the same period last year.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said late-summer heat and scattered showers and thunderstorms returned over the weekend, with temperatures expected to climb into the 90s.
“The warm weather will continue to push crop development as we close out August and head into September,” Naig said.
Corn development remained ahead of last year in several categories.
Ninety-four percent of Iowa corn had reached the dough stage, three percentage points ahead of last year.
Sixty-eight percent had reached the dent stage, eight points ahead of last year.
Six percent of the crop had reached maturity, however, which was two percentage points behind last year.
Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent.
Soybean development was somewhat slower compared with last year.
Ninety-three percent of Iowa soybeans had set pods, one percentage point behind last year, while one percent had begun dropping leaves, two points behind last year.
Soybean condition also stood at 77 percent good to excellent.
The oat harvest was nearly complete, with 98 percent of the crop harvested. That was one percentage point behind last year’s pace.
Pasture conditions were rated 65 percent good to excellent.
Soil moisture remained generally adequate, although portions of Iowa continued to show signs of dryness.
Topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 24 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.
Weather during the week was less stormy than in some recent periods, with rainfall reaching much of Iowa but generally falling short of normal.
State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported a statewide average temperature of 70.1 degrees, 0.8 degree above normal.
Weekly rainfall averaged just 0.32 inch statewide compared with a normal 0.91 inch.
Northern Iowa saw some of the cooler temperatures of the week, with Lake Park in Dickinson County falling to 47 degrees on August 24, about 12 degrees below normal.
Rainfall was heavier in portions of northwest and north-central Iowa late in the week.
Webster City in Hamilton County received 0.78 inch, while Rock Rapids in Lyon County recorded 1.30 inches during one round of storms and 1.40 inches for the week.
Other parts of Iowa received little or no measurable rainfall.
The week’s highest temperature was 91 degrees at Shenandoah in Page County.
Naig also pointed to the Farm Progress Show in Boone as Iowa agriculture heads into September, saying the event provides an opportunity for farmers, agribusiness leaders and visitors to see new technologies and innovations shaping the future of farming.