Northey Comments On Iowa Crops And Weather Report

DES MOINES -- 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.

“Harvest is nearly complete and most farmers are now focused on fall tillage, fertilizer applications and construction of conservation practices,” 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 follows here:

CROP REPORT

Fall tillage and fertilizer applications continue as harvest is nearly complete. Some farmers are delaying anhydrous applications due to concerns of the dry conditions preventing sealing and causing nitrogen losses. More corn stalks have been baled this fall due to concerns about hay supplies.

There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the past week. Northwest Iowa had the most days suitable with 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork while all other districts had less than 6.0 days suitable. Rains eased moisture concerns slightly. Topsoil moisture rated 29 percent very short, 38 percent short, 32 adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 32 percent very short, 40 percent short, 27 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Grain movement continues to slow, with one-third of the State seeing no grain movement from farm to elevator. With little harvest remaining, 89 percent of the State reports adequate or surplus off-farm storage capacity and 83 percent of the State reports adequate or surplus on-farm storage capacity.
Ninety-five percent of the corn crop has been harvested for grain or seed, just behind 2010’s 97 percent but 25 percentage points ahead of the normal pace. Soybean harvest is virtually complete.

Pasture and range condition rated 25 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 17 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Hay supplies are considered adequate across two-thirds of Iowa with only 11 percent considered in poor condition. Livestock are enjoying sun and mild temperatures.

 
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY

By Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist

The primary weather story this week was the mid-week rain event. Rain fell statewide on Wednesday and across the southeast one-half of Iowa on Thursday morning. Rain was light over the far northwest and moderate to heavy over the far southeast. Rain totals varied from just a trace at Sheldon to 2.30 inches at Keokuk. The statewide average rainfall of 0.76 inch has been exceeded by only one other event since June 27 (0.82 inch on September 2-3). However, this was the only rain for the past week, but did exceed the weekly normal of 0.54 inch. Meanwhile temperatures were quite variable. Tuesday (1st) was the warmest day with afternoon temperatures ranging from the mid 60s northwest to the mid 70s southeast while Friday (4th) was the coldest day with morning lows only in the teens northwest while only Lee County failed to record a freeze. Temperature extremes for the week varied from a Friday morning low of 14 degrees at Battle Creek to Tuesday afternoon highs of 77 degrees at Keosauqua, Leon and Rathbun Dam. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 2.9 degrees above normal. Finally, soil temperatures by the weekend were averaging in the mid 40s statewide.

Source: IDALS