DES MOINES, Iowa—Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“I spent two days last week visiting with farmers, ag businesses, local officials and many others impacted by flooding and excessive rainfall in Northwest Iowa. Though most of Iowa’s corn crop will be well beyond ‘knee high by the Fourth of July,’ unfortunately, farmers impacted by the flooding did experience some crop damage,” said Secretary Naig. “After a particularly wet end to June for portions of Iowa, it looks like the first week of July will also be full of showers and thunderstorms. Short-term outlooks for the first half of the month suggest warmer temperatures and a shift to more normal rainfall potential.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Much of Iowa received heavy rains which only allowed farmers 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 30, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities were limited due to rain and flooding throughout much of the State.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus.
Corn silking reached 4 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn condition fell 4 percentage points to 73 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 19 percent, 1 day behind of last year but 2 days ahead of average. The condition of the soybean crop was 72 percent good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of the oat crop has headed. Oats turning color reached 43 percent, 6 days ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.
The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 17 percent complete, equal to the 5-year average. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Many feedlots remain muddy due to excess moisture.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
While many rivers and inland streams continue to crest from record rainfalls, June’s final reporting period was unseasonably wet. Iowa’s southeast half received above-average rainfall with below-normal totals northwest. Temperatures remained warmer across most of Iowa with near-normal conditions to the north; Iowa’s average temperature was 73.5 degrees, 1.1 degrees above normal.
Partly cloudy conditions developed through Sunday (23rd) afternoon with light westerly winds and temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. Winds shifted to the southwest as spotty thundershowers popped up overnight across north-central to southern Iowa. Monday (24th) morning was unseasonably warm with low temperatures holding in the 70s. Several stations reported rainfall totals from 0.16 inch in Dallas Center (Dallas County) to 1.94 inches in Kanawha (Hancock County). Clouds hung around portions of southern Iowa as afternoon temperatures rose into the upper 80s and low 90s with dewpoint temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s. Strong southwesterly winds built in after sunset before shifting to the northwest over northern Iowa as a strong cold front dropped south. Strong storms fired near daybreak on Tuesday (25th) across southern Iowa where morning lows were in the low 80s, up to 20 degrees above normal. High temperatures again reached into the low 90s as ample moisture and instability refired strong to severe storms during the evening hours. With existing outflow boundaries from morning storms and ideal atmospheric conditions, funnel clouds were observed across central and southern Iowa; several land spouts were reported from funnels contacting the surface. There were also multiple reports of severe straight line winds and heavy rain. Much of Iowa’s southern half received at least 0.50 inch with nearly 60 stations registering an inch; numerous central Iowa gauges collected over two inches with 2.03 inches in Pleasant Hill (Polk County) to 2.71 inches in Norwalk (Warren County). Winds became variable into Wednesday (26th) with some isolated showers in eastern Iowa. Daytime conditions were sunny with a northerly wind and temperatures in the low to mid 80s.
An easterly shifting wind signaled an approaching weather disturbance that brought widespread showers throughout the state for much of Thursday (27th). Afternoon temperatures remained in the low 70s where clouds and rain were present. Showers and thunderstorms persisted into Friday (28th) morning as a cold front advanced southeast through the state. Most of the state’s stations reported at least 0.75 inch with much of eastern Iowa registering more than double. Over 175 locations broke the 1.00 inch mark with a swath of 2.00 inch totals in east-central Iowa; Robins (Linn County) observed 2.04 inches while 2.60 inches was reported in Dysart (Tama County) and an overall statewide average coming in at 0.93 inch. A brief and narrow line of strong thunderstorms produced a few reports of a rope tornado near Atlantic (Cass County) into the evening hours. Patchy fog formed over eastern Iowa by sunrise on Saturday (29th) with morning lows ranging from the mid 60s north to low 70s south. Afternoon conditions were pleasant with a gusty northwesterly wind and highs in the low 80s southeast to low 70s northwest. Star-lit skies remained through Sunday (30th) morning with lows dropping into the mid to upper 50s statewide.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.12 inch at Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) to 3.88 inches in Kanawha. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.41 inches while the normal is 1.16 inches. Little Sioux (Harrison County) reported the week’s high temperature of 102 degrees on the 24th, 17 degrees above normal. Mapleton (Monona County) reported the week’s low temperature of 46 degrees on the 30th, on average 15 degrees below normal.
(contributed press release, IDALS)
