Latest crop report shows positives

DES MOINES — Mostly hot and dry weather conditions last week resulted in another suitable week for farmers in Iowa’s fields.

Susan Kohls is with the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Iowa Field Office.  “The state experienced hot conditions and scattered rain this past week. Iowa farmers averaged 5.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 1st, 2024. Activities included preparing for the fall harvest and hay cutting.” Here in the north-central Iowa crop reporting district, there were 5.6 days suitable for field work.

Kohls says progress of the state’s corn crop continues to be about average. “Corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 94% this week. 61% of the corn crop reached the dent stage, five days behind last year and one day behind the five-year average. Corn mature reached 10%, two days behind last year but one day ahead of the five-year average. Corn condition rated 77% good to excellent.” Here in the north-central district, 99% of corn reached the dough stage, 64% is at the dent stage and 8% is mature.

Kohls says soybean progress is slightly behind average.  “Soybeans setting pods reached 95%. Soybeans coloring reached 18%, four days behind last year and two days behind the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves began at 2%. Soybean condition was 77% good to excellent.” Here in the north-central district, 98% of soybeans were setting pods with 12% coloring.

Kohls says the majority of the fields across the state continue to have adequate topsoil and subsoil moisture numbers.  “Topsoil moisture condition rated 2% very short, 20% short, 76% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3% very short, 19% short, 75% adequate and 3% surplus.”

Here in the north-central district, 73% of topsoil moisture was adequate, 24% short, 2% very short and 1% surplus; while subsoil moisture in the district was listed as 82% adequate, 14% short, 2% very short  and 2% surplus. Most of the state experienced around an inch of rainfall last week, while many spots in north-central Iowa were in the inch-and-a-half to two inch range.

To see the full report, click here