Iowa experienced hot and dry conditions this week. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 15th, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Field activities included chopping corn silage and harvesting corn and soybeans. Corn in the dent stage or beyond reached 85 percent this week, 8 days behind last year and 2 days behind the five-year average. Corn mature reached 41 percent, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the average. Corn harvested for grain began this week at 2 percent. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 72 percent, 3 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean dropping leaves reached 31 percent, 3 days behind last year. The soybean harvest began this week at 1 percent. Soybean condition was 77 percent good to excellent. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 96 percent, 9 days behind last year but 1 week ahead of the five-year average. Pasture conditions fell 11 percentage points to 52 percent good to excellent.