News
Iowa’s crop ratings remain high; soil moisture levels are declining
Iowa’s crop ratings remain at very high levels this week, with corn rated 85 percent good to excellent and soybeans at 84 percent.
There were reports of corn silking across much of the state with an average of five percent, slightly behind the five-year average. Soybean blooming reached 37 percent, six days ahead of average, and there were scattered reports of soybeans beginning to set pod.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 38 percent and the hay condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 69 percent good to excellent.
Soil moisture levels across Iowa may become more of a focus in coming days, with many forecasters calling for continued hot and dry weather. Topsoil moisture levels in Iowa rated 22 percent short to very short this week, compared to 11 percent last week. Likewise, subsoil moisture levels rated 16 percent short to very short this week, up from eight percent last week.
