Another dry and hot week left Iowa farmers with 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting hay and harvesting oats, while more reports were received of farmers applying fungicides. The continued dry conditions made crop stress more widespread. 

Topsoil moisture condition rated 19 percent very short, 42 percent short, 38 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 20 percent very short, 47 percent short, 32 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. 

Corn silking hit 92 percent this week, one week ahead of last year and five days ahead of normal. Thirty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, three days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Five percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, eight days ahead of last year and six days ahead of normal. Corn condition dropped to 59 percent good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of soybeans were blooming, nearly two weeks ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the average. Soybeans setting pods reached 57 percent, three days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition fell as well to 55 percent good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of oats were turning color with 55 percent harvested for grain, a day behind both last year and the five-year average. Oat condition rated 55 percent good to excellent. 

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 93 percent complete, six days ahead of both last year and the average. Iowa’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 33 percent complete, 11 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 36 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions rated just 23 percent good to excellent, while some livestock producers have been hauling water and feeding hay to their cattle in the continued dry conditions. Intense heat last week brought a lot of stress to livestock with some feedlots experiencing death loss.