Northey Comments on Iowa Crop 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.

“Conditions were nearly ideal in much of the state last week and as a result farmers were able to make tremendous progress. As of Sunday, 68 percent of corn and 11 percent of soybeans have been planted, both ahead of the five-year average,” 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 summary follows here:

CROP REPORT

Dry weather allowed Iowa farmers to make excellent progress in spring planting during the week ending May 3, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Although the primary activity during the week was planting, other activities included fertilizer and herbicide application, as well as seedbed preparation.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 11 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. North central Iowa reported the highest topsoil moisture level with 99 percent rated adequate to surplus, while southwest Iowa recorded the highest subsoil moisture at 97 adequate to surplus.

Over one-half of Iowa’s corn acreage was planted last week, the largest percentage planted during this week in over 20 years. Sixty-eight percent of the corn crop has been planted, 8 days ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Farmers in central Iowa led the way with 80 percent of their corn crop planted. Despite progress made in planting, corn emergence remains behind normal. Soybean planting reached 11 percent complete, 5 days ahead of 2014, and 4 days ahead of the average. Ninety-six percent of the oat crop has been planted, nearly 2 weeks ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal. Oats emerged reached 63 percent, one week ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal. Emergence continues to lag behind in north central and northeast Iowa, with only 55 and 50 percent of oats emerged, respectively.

Pasture condition improved to 64 percent good to excellent. Pastures are starting to come along with the warmer temperatures, though cool weather slowed growth throughout the beginning of the season. There were reports of cattle being turned onto pasture and spring calving nearing completion. Poultry producers are still concerned with the recent outbreak of avian influenza.

IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY

By Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Temperatures were near seasonal norms with afternoon highs in the sixties and seventies through Saturday with much warmer weather arriving on Sunday (3rd) when highs were in the mid-seventies northeast to upper-eighties over the northwest portion of Iowa. Temperature extremes ranged from a Thursday (30th) morning low of 30 degrees at Elkader to a Sunday (3rd) afternoon high of 89 degrees at Little Sioux.

Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged near normal over the southeast to about four degrees above normal over the northwest corner of Iowa with a statewide average of 2.3 degrees above normal. Meanwhile dry weather prevailed over most of Iowa from Monday (27th) through Thursday (30th).

Light rain was scattered across the west one-half of the state on Friday (1st) with showers and thunderstorms over the south one-half of Iowa on Saturday (2nd). Showers and thunderstorms were more widespread on Sunday (3rd) evening and night, but came too late to be reflected in this week’s report.

Weekly rain totals varied from none over much of the northeast one-quarter of Iowa, and along the Minnesota border, to 0.91 inches near Hastings in Mills County of southwest Iowa. The statewide average precipitation was only 0.13 inches while normal for the week is 0.98 inches. The warmer weekend weather pushed soil temperatures at the four inch depth to the low- to mid-sixties as of Sunday (3rd).

Source:  Iowa Agriculture Dept.