Another dry week left Iowa farmers with 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the latest Crop Progress Report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Field activities included chopping corn silage as well as cutting and baling hay. Continued drought conditions have stressed corn and soybeans, drying them out to the point that some farmers were getting equipment ready for harvest. 

Topsoil moisture condition rated 33 percent very short, 42 percent short, 25 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 31 percent very short, 44 percent short, 24 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. 

Corn in the dent stage or beyond was 78 percent this week, five days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Seventeen percent of the State’s corn crop has reached maturity, five days ahead of last year and three days ahead of normal. Corn condition declined five percentage points to 49 percent good to excellent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 40 percent, six days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the average. Soybeans dropping leaves was eight percent, one week ahead of last year and two days ahead of normal. Soybean condition fell four percentage points to 49 percent good to excellent. 

Iowa’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 95 percent complete, 16 days ahead of last year and 19 days ahead of the average. Pasture conditions rated 16 percent good to excellent, the lowest rating since September 2020. Hotter than normal temperatures continued to stress livestock, however reports of death loss were down this week.