North Iowa crops continue strong start despite scattered storm damage

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Corn and soybean crops in north central Iowa are mostly off to a strong start this season, even as heavy rains and scattered hail caused some localized damage last week.

In the USDA’s weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report released Monday, 100% of the corn in the north central district, which includes Floyd County, has emerged, while soybean emergence is nearly complete at 98%. Those emergence rates are ahead of statewide averages of 97% for corn and 93% for soybeans.

Crop conditions remain favorable overall. Statewide, 84% of corn and 80% of soybeans are rated good to excellent. North central Iowa does not have a separate condition rating in the weekly report, but statewide numbers suggest generally solid early season development.

North central Iowa farmers had 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 15, slightly below the statewide average of 5.5 days. Fieldwork last week included hay harvest, spraying and side dressing.

Much of the week’s rainfall arrived with thunderstorms on June 12 and again over the weekend.

Charles City recorded 2.46 inches of rain for the week, including 2.30 inches on Thursday, June 12, according to National Weather Service data. Nearby Nashua received 2.10 inches and Mason City measured 3.22 inches for the week.

The storms also produced large hail and straight-line winds that caused scattered crop and tree damage across portions of northern Iowa.

Soil moisture improved slightly in north central Iowa following the rainfall. Topsoil moisture in the district was rated 72% adequate, 23% short and 2% very short. Subsoil moisture was rated 66% adequate, 29% short and 4% very short.

Most of Floyd County remains categorized as “abnormally dry,” with little change reported on last week’s U.S. Drought Monitor update issued Thursday.

The county has been in the abnormally dry category for several months, with a small area previously classified in “moderate drought.” Some minor improvement was noted in that area on last week’s map.

However, the latest report does not yet reflect the significant rainfall that fell later in the week.

Soil moisture levels in the north central district, which includes Floyd County, are in good shape, with topsoil moisture rated 98% adequate or surplus, and subsoil moisture 93% adequate.

Looking ahead, state climatologist Justin Glisan said Iowa is likely to see warmer-than-normal temperatures and continued storm chances as summer officially begins.