Dry conditions and wind have been making for a difficult growing season so far in central Iowa, according to the most recent Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last week, there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork, though there were several reports that farmers found it difficult to spray crops due to constant winds. Other activities included finishing up planting, harvesting hay, and hauling grain. ISU Extension Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson notes that drought conditions have also affected the growing season, which the USDA backed up by reporting 8% topsoil moisture levels rated short or very short, and 7% subsoil rated that same range.

Anderson says that the weather has impacted the crops differently this season, with dramatic shifts in quality. “The growing season has been really kind of interesting. Soybeans looked really good early, and corn looked kind of tough for a while – as it was looking for some nitrogen – and really uneven. And now it seems like we’ve flip-flopped. Corn looks really quite nice, and we’re starting to get a lot of phone calls about issues showing up in soybeans.”

As for statewide crop conditions, the USDA rates corn as 85% good to excellent, and soybeans at 84%. There have been a few reports of corn beginning to silk and soybean emergence has reached 96%, which is 16 days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the five-year average. To learn more about the current crop progress, click the link below to listen to the Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Anderson.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2020/06/26/lets-talk-dallas-county-6-26-2020-meaghan-anderson/