Much of Iowa had mostly warm and dry weather last week that benefited crop production. The latest USDA report released Monday rates 82% of Iowa’s corn crop and 78% of the state’s soybeans in good to excellent condition. Bob Lynch, who farms 1500 acres near Fort Dodge, says his corn exceeds the traditional “knee high by the Fourth of July” measurement.
Some of Lynch’s corn acreage was lost due to heavy rains, while many plants are moving into the critical pollination stage.
The USDA reports nearly all of Iowa’s soybeans have emerged. Lynch notes his soybean crop has overcome some big weather hurdles.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker reports last week was Iowa’s driest week in over two months with a statewide average precipitation amount of 0.3 inches. Rainfall totals varied from none over parts of the state to 2.17 inches in Davenport.
