DES MOINES — Much-needed rainfall reached parts of Northern Iowa during one of the hottest starts to September on record as farmers across the state continued preparing for corn and soybean harvest.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report shows farmers had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 6, while corn and soybean development continued toward maturity.
The new numbers follow last week’s report showing both Iowa corn and soybeans rated 77 percent good to excellent as late-summer heat pushed crop development.
“The first week of September was one of the hottest on record, setting up some muggy conditions for attendees at the Farm Progress Show,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.
Naig said rainfall that reached portions of Northern Iowa around the Labor Day weekend provided some welcome help in areas still dealing with longer-term moisture shortages.
“Parts of northern Iowa received much-needed rainfall that will help chip away at longer-term soil moisture deficits,” Naig said.
Farmers are now busy chopping silage and making final preparations for harvest while waiting for crops to fully mature and dry down.
That continues a trend NIT reported in late August, when Iowa corn was advancing rapidly toward harvest during a much drier stretch of weather.
Statewide topsoil moisture was rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture was rated 5 percent very short, 24 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.
Corn remains in strong condition
Iowa’s corn crop continues to progress, although maturity remains behind last year.
About 96 percent of corn had reached the dough stage, unchanged from last year.
Seventy-nine percent had reached the dent stage, one percentage point ahead of last year.
Just 17 percent of the corn crop had reached maturity, however, seven percentage points behind last year.
Overall corn condition remained strong, with 77 percent rated good to excellent.
Soybeans moving toward fall
Six percent of Iowa soybeans were dropping leaves, four percentage points behind last year.
Soybean condition was rated 75 percent good to excellent.
The state’s oat harvest has largely concluded and was running slightly ahead of last year.
Pasture condition was rated 64 percent good to excellent.
Northern Iowa hammered by storms and heavy rain
Northern Iowa saw some of the state’s most significant rainfall during the reporting period.
Strong thunderstorms pushed into northwest Iowa Tuesday night, with some storms becoming severe and prompting tornado warnings. No tornadoes were reported, but powerful wind gusts accompanied the storms.
One of the strongest gusts was recorded in North Iowa.
Britt in Hancock County recorded an 87 mph wind gust, while Hawarden in Sioux County registered an 81 mph gust.
Rainfall totals included 1.72 inches at Rock Rapids, 2 inches at Le Mars and 1 inch at Orange City.
Thunderstorms continued across north-central and eastern Iowa Wednesday, bringing additional rain to Northern Iowa.
Lake Mills in Winnebago County received 0.80 inch, while Lake Park in Dickinson County reported 1.12 inches.
The rain adds to what has already been an uneven growing season across the region. NIT reported in August that heavy rain had soaked portions of Northern Iowa even as drought conditions persisted elsewhere in the state.
Another round of thunderstorms moved into northwest Iowa early Saturday, producing more than an inch of rain at several locations. Rock Rapids recorded another 1.60 inches.
Sioux Center received 3.05 inches during the week, the highest reported weekly precipitation total in Iowa.
Despite those pockets of heavy rain, statewide rainfall remained well below normal.
Iowa averaged just 0.37 inch of precipitation for the week compared with the normal 0.88 inch.
Earlier in the summer, Northern Iowa also endured periods of heavy rainfall while corn and soybean conditions remained generally strong.
September starts exceptionally hot
The other major weather story was the heat.
Iowa’s statewide average temperature reached 79.8 degrees during the reporting period — a whopping 11.1 degrees above normal.
Southern Iowa was particularly hot, with temperatures running 12 to 15 degrees above normal. Northern Iowa was somewhat cooler because of additional cloud cover and rainfall.
Temperatures reached 100 degrees at Donnellson and Lamoni during the week.
Naig said farmers and state officials are now watching forecasts for a change in the weather as harvest approaches.
“We’re keeping an eye on the outlooks, which show more seasonal temperatures and better chances of rainfall as we move into mid-September,” Naig said.