Northey says crops beginning to look normal for this time of the year

The Oskaloosa Herald

DES MOINES July 16, 2008 09:19 am

— Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.
“Though the crop is still behind it is beginning to look at lot more like it should at this time of year,” Northey said. “Some farms are still waterlogged and others appreciated the rain they got last week. Most of our crops continue to improve with the better weather we have received the last couple weeks.”
The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Web site at www.IowaAgriculture.gov. The report follows here:
STRONG CROP GROWTH
Agricultural Summary: In the first days of the week, rainfall ranged from light in western Iowa to several inches in the central and eastern districts of the state. Sunny and hot conditions returned in the latter part of the week. Strong growth is now visible in the corn and soybean crops. Corn stands remain uneven in fields where flooding occurred last month. Conditions continued to be favorable for spraying crops. Livestock appear to be in good health with plenty of grass.
There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork, compared to 6.6 days last year at this time. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 28 percent surplus.
Field Crops Report: Corn height averaged 49 inches, 22 inches behind last year at this time and 17 inches behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 45 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Thirty-five percent of soybeans are blooming, 29 percentage points behind last year and 19 points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 45 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Ninety-five percent of the oat crop has headed with 46 percent turning color. Heading is 5 percentage points behind the five-year average and turning color is 35 percentage points behind the five-year average. Oats condition rated 0 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 47 percent good and 12 percent excellent. First cutting of alfalfa is nearly complete at 97 percent. Second cutting is 16 percent complete, 39 percentage points behind the five-year average. All hay conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 49 percent good and 14 percent excellent.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 51 percent good and 17 percent excellent.