September 6, 2013
Iowa''s corn, soy crops decline on dry weather
Buoyed by hot and dry week, Iowa continued to take its toll on the state''s corn and soy crops, according to the USDA.
Topsoil moisture levels were rated 44% very short, 34% short, 22% adequate and 0% surplus for the week that ended on Sunday (Sep 1). Subsoil moisture levels were rated 35% very short, 39% short, 26% adequate and 0% surplus.
Corncondition declined from the previous week, and was rated at 8% very poor, 17% poor, 36% fair, 33% good and 6% excellent. Around 94% of the corn crop reached the milk stage, 4% behind normal, and 73% of the crop reached the dough stage, trailing the normal 88%.
Soycondition also declined from the previous week and was rated 8% very poor, 16% poor, 37% fair, 34% good and 5% excellent. About 93% of the soy crop was setting pods, behind last year''s 99% and the normal 98%.
Some of the earliest planted soy has begun turning colour. The warm and mostly dry conditions across the state allowed the harvest of third cutting alfalfa to reach 77% compete, above the normal 72%, but still well behind last year''s 98%.
Pasture condition continued to deteriorate, and was rated 24% very poor, 28% poor, 33% fair, 14% good and 1% excellent.
The latest Iowa Drought Monitor map issued August 29 by the National Drought Mitigation Centre, the USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association showed 22.4% of Iowa in severe drought, 60.23% in moderate drought and the remainder abnormally dry.