Charles City area continues receiving above-average rain

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

All of Iowa is out of the drought category, according to the latest Drought Monitor report, with only most of Scott County and a tiny bit of Clinton County in southeast Iowa still listed as “abnormally dry,” the lowest classification available.

The week before a larger of the area of the state was listed as abnormally dry, but there hasn’t been any part of the state listed under one of the drought classifications since the end of May.

The Charles City area continues to receive above average precipitation, with June recording more than an inch and a half above normal for the month.

This year now has received more than 7 inches above the average amount of precipitation usually expected in the first half of the year, according to National Weather Service reports and historical records.

The Charles City area received 6.51 inches of rain in June, compared to the average for the month of 4.92 inches, and has received nearly 25 inches so far this year, compared with the usual average of just under 18 inches.

The weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report issued weekly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship shows most of the state’s corn crop in great shape, with 57% rated good and 17% excellent.

The latest report issued on Monday, July 15,  says that 19% of the crop is in fair condition, 5% poor and 2% very poor.

The soybean crop is rated as 57% good and 15% excellent, with 21% fair, 5% poor and 2% very poor.

In the Northcentral District that includes Floyd County, 40% of the corn crop is silking and 58% of soybeans are blooming. Both of those marks are behind last year’s average for the state, but ahead of the five-year average.

“Most of the state received below normal rainfall and experienced mild temperatures,” the report stated. “These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 14, 2024,” according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and applying fungicides.

Topsoil moisture conditions averaged across the state rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

“Although the first half of July was cooler and wetter than average, Iowa’s tasseling corn encountered some summer heat and humidity this past weekend,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

“Monday’s thunderstorms will give way to more seasonal conditions and cooler temperatures. This will be welcome news for our state’s livestock as well as those participating in county fairs around the state,” he said.