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Iowa Crop and Weather Report

Monday, August 3, 2009

Contact: Dustin Vande Hoef
515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)

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.

“This past July was the coolest on record, and as a result crop development remains behind average,” Northey said. “However, most plants remain in good to excellent condition, so with warm weather and timely rains in August we remain on track for a great harvest.”

The report follows here:

JULY MAKES RECORD BOOK

Agricultural Summary: Unseasonably cool temperatures throughout July contributed to Iowa’s corn and soybean development being behind the five-year averages. Stress levels remain relatively low in what was another dry week in many areas. Some heavy but localized crop damage was reported in the Northeast district as hail striped corn plants to the stalk and devastated soybean fields. In spite of this isolated crop damage, most of Iowa’s corn and soybean crops are still rated in good condition. Farmers continue to treat fields for disease and damaging insects where thresholds have been surpassed. Livestock continue to enjoy the cooler than average temperatures.

There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared to the five-year average of 5.4 days. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 15 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn was rated 92 percent tasseled, behind the five-year average of 96 percent. Corn silked increased with 79 percent reported silking, 19 percentage points ahead of last week, but 10 percentage points behind the five-year average. Corn at or beyond the milk stage reached 24 percent, 6 percentage points ahead of last year, but 23 percentage points behind the five-year average. Corn reported at or beyond the dough stage reached 2 percent, on par with last year, but 14 percentage points below the five-year average. Corn condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 29 percent excellent.

Soybeans reached 90 percent blooming with 61 percent setting pods. Soybeans blooming are 9 percentage points ahead of last year, but 2 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods are ahead of last year by 16 percentage points, but 5 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 23 percent excellent.

Ninety-nine percent of the oat crop is now turning color, 4 percentage points ahead of last year, and on par with the five-year average. Oat harvest reached 64 percent complete, 12 percentage points behind the five-year average, but 26 percentage points ahead of last year. Oat condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 13 percent excellent.

Alfalfa second cutting has reached 80 percent complete, 10 percentage points behind the five-year average, but 12 percentage points ahead of last year. Alfalfa third cutting has reached 6 percent complete, 8 percentage points behind the five-year average, but 3 percentage points ahead of last year. All hay condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Overall, the cool weather was beneficial to all livestock, especially animals in feed yards.

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