The United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics quantified the last week for farmers across the state. Drier weather in southeast Iowa allowed for 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, a stark contrast from the wet weather the KCII listening area experienced in the early and mid portions of the month. Work done during the week included applying fungicides and insecticides and harvesting hay and oats.

Even with the wet weather earlier in July, topsoil moisture levels around the state are listed as 14% very short, 39% short, 46% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil levels follow the same trend with 20% rated very short, 40% short, 39% adequate and 1% surplus.

Some portions of the state are seeing the dry conditions cause stress on crops, especially in the northern third of Iowa. Corn silking has hit the 80% mark, equal to the five year average. Corn in the dough stage is at 21%, three days ahead of normal. Corn condition was 65% good to excellent. For soybeans, 85% were blooming, six days ahead of a five year average. More than half of the soybeans in the state are setting pods, also six days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent. Oat coloring is at 94% two days ahead of normal with 48% of the crop having already been harvested slightly ahead of the five year average. Condition of Iowa’s oat crop is rated 64% good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa is 83% complete, with a third cutting at 8%. Hay condition is rated 60% good to excellent with pasture condition 44% good to excellent. Dry hot and humid conditions are expected to persist across Washington County and southeast Iowa with temperatures in the low to mid 90s and heat indices into the triple digits through the early part of Thursday before a chance of thunderstorms later in the day and temperatures forecast in the low to mid 80s arrive into next week.