Warm, mostly dry weather gave Iowa farmers more time to harvest during the week ending October 11th, but corn and soybean harvest progress remained well behind the five-year averages.
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Crop Progress and Condition Report showed 14 percent of Iowa’s corn and 31 percent of its soybeans had been harvested. Those figures were 20 percentage points and 28 percentage points behind their respective five-year averages.
Farmers had 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the reporting period.
“Harvest is in full swing across Iowa, but farmers are continuing to battle wet field conditions following one of the wettest Septembers on record,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.
Corn and Soybean Conditions Remain Favorable
Ninety-five percent of Iowa’s corn had reached maturity, matching the five-year average. Corn condition was rated 71 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans dropping leaves reached 94 percent, two percentage points behind average. Soybean condition was rated 69 percent good to excellent.
Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Pastures were rated 72 percent good to excellent.
“Farmers took advantage of last week’s warm, mostly dry weather to get combines rolling and make significant harvest progress,” Naig said. “With more favorable weather in the forecast, we expect another busy week as farmers keep combines moving, seed cover crops and tackle other fall farm work.”
Northwest Iowa Records Rainfall and Temperature Extremes
State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported that Iowa’s first full week of October was unseasonably dry overall, following four consecutive reporting periods with above-average rainfall. However, thunderstorms brought heavier rain and large hail along a corridor stretching from northwest into central and southeastern Iowa.
Cherokee recorded 1.93 inches of rain, the highest weekly total reported statewide. Several storms produced hail measuring one to one-and-a-half inches in diameter along a stretch from Plymouth County to Dallas County.
The statewide average precipitation was 0.55 inch, below the normal of 0.69 inch. Numerous stations reported no measurable precipitation.
Temperatures averaged 65.5 degrees statewide, nine degrees above normal. Sioux City Airport recorded the week’s highest temperature at 93 degrees on October 10th, 27 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport recorded the lowest temperature at 36 degrees on October 5th.
The statewide average high on October 10th was 85 degrees, 20 degrees above normal.
