Iowa had ‘wettest’ week of the season last week

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Corn silk emerges in a corn field. (Photo by Preston Keres/USDA)

State Climatologist Justin Glisan said the June 23 through June 29 reporting period was the “wettest” of the season, with precipitation totals 2-4 inches above normal in some areas.

While the rain hindered some field work, it was overall beneficial for Iowa crops which continue to rate highly according to the crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said corn tassels are beginning to show, “signaling crop development remains on track.”

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According to the report, around 3% of Iowa corn was beginning to silk and the crop rated 85% good or excellent. Soybeans were also a couple of days ahead of average, with 22% of the crop blooming across the state. Soybeans rated 77% good to excellent.

“Last week brought multiple rounds of rain to much of the state, marking the wettest seven days of the growing season thus far,” Naig said. “In addition to benefitting the corn and soybeans, the moisture helps to replenish our streams, pastures and hay fields.”

As a whole, the state averaged 2.81 inches for the reporting period, which was more than an inch and a half above normal. Precipitation maps show central and western parts of the state received the most rainfall during the period.

Purple and light blue areas represent the parts of the state that received the most rainfall during the reporting period. (Map courtesy of IDALS)

The rain pushed some areas, most severely north central and central Iowa, to hold excess soil moisture. Around 40% of topsoil moisture rated surplus in these regions and in north central Iowa, nearly 50% of subsoil had surplus moisture.

The state average topsoil moisture condition rated 65% adequate and 21% surplus. Subsoil conditions on average were 70% adequate and 27% short.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay all but wrapped up during the reporting period, with 97% completed across the state and 30% of the second cutting of hay complete.

Oats also progressed, with 90% headed and 39% coloring. Iowa’s oat crop rated 83% good or excellent.

In addition to heavy rainfall, it was also a hot week across the state. The statewide average high temperature for the week, at 92 degrees Fahrenheit, was 10 degrees above the normal.

Forecasts for the coming week show Iowans can expect an inch or two of rain and slightly above average temperatures, which Naig said will be “pleasant conditions for a festive and fun Independence Day weekend filled with fireworks, cookouts and outdoor celebrations.”

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