A wet and steamy week saw draw July draw to a close for area farmers. According to the Department of Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Progress Report, most of the state received rain showers and above average temperatures for the week ending August 4th. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities included harvest oats, cutting and bailing hay, and applying fungicide.

Topsoil moisutre was rated 11% surplus, 76% adequate, 12% short, and 1% very short. Subsoil moisutre was 9% surprlus, 79% adequate, 10% short, and 2% very short.

Corn silking reached 92% this week, on the five-year average but five days behind last year. 51% of the crop has reached dough stage or behind, three days ahead of the five-year average. 8% of the corn crop has dented. Corn condition is rated 77% good to excellent. 98% of soybeans are blooming, one day ahead of the five-year average but a week behind last year. Soybeans setting pods are at 58%, five days behind 2023 and three days behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 76% good to excellent. 85% of oats have been harvested five days ahead of last year and four days in front of the five-year average.

Iowa’s second cutting of alfalfa hay is 92% complete, on the five-year average, but six days behind last year. The third cutting is 27% compete, eight days behind last year, but one day ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition is rated 72% good to excellent. Pasture condition is 62% good to excellent.