June 18, 2010

Iowa crops in good condition amid ample rain

Crop conditions in mid-June look very good in Iowa; corn is rated 76% good to excellent, and soy is 75% good to excellent, according to the weekly Iowa Crops and Weather Report released by the Iowa office of USDA's National Ag Statistics Service in Des Moines.

A week of heavy rainfall in much of Iowa has encouraged weed growth and discouraged farmers from getting out into fields. There are some farmers, especially in southeast and south central Iowa with fields left to plant who are wondering if and when they will be able to get in and complete the planting. There are also fields where tillage was done this spring that are now facing soil erosion concerns as a result of all this rain.

Fields generally need a chance for the rains to quit and for the fields to dry out. Showers have occurred at least once a day almost every day for the past two weeks in central and southern Iowa. Farmers are reporting yellow corn in some parts of the state due to the continued rainfall, while other farmers in other areas said their corn is dark green. Soy is emerging, but the main concern of farmers is weeds. Drier weather is needed before farmers will be able to get back out into the fields and spray.