Another week of storms which delivered heavy precipitation across much of Iowa resulted in just 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 24, 2018. Activities for the week included checking rain gauges, assessing flood damage, harvesting hay, and applying post-emergent herbicides when weather permitted.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 10 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Heavy rainfall left many fields ponded and caused flooding in some northern counties. In south central Iowa the topsoil moisture supplies rated adequate to surplus reached 66 percent; the highest percentage in these categories since the week ending June 4, 2017.
Eighty-one percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, that's three percent lower than a week ago. Nearly all of the soybean crop has emerged with four percent of the crop blooming, 3 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Seventy-nine percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition,down two percent from a week ago. Eighty-four percent of the oat crop has headed, 3 days ahead of average. Eighty percent of the oat crop was rated in good to excellent condition.
With the first cutting of alfalfa hay nearing completion, the second cutting reached 8 percent complete. Putting up hay was a challenge this week due to persistent precipitation. Hay condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions rated 67 percent good to excellent. Heat and high humidity continued to stress livestock. Muddy conditions have made feedlot operations difficult.