Pleasant Weather Good for Iowa Crops

Crops are getting a good boost heading into fall.

Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says his past week’s pleasant weather has been good for the crops. 

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA says corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 82 percent this week – two days ahead of the five-year average. Twenty-eight percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage – one day ahead of the five-year average. The corn crop has just begun to mature, with corn condition rated at 77 percent good to excellent. 

Ninety-six percent of soybeans were blooming with 83 percent setting pods – three days behind average. Soybeans have just begun turning color. Soybean condition was 77 percent good to excellent. 

The state’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 63 percent – four days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition is rated 79 percent good to excellent. And ninety-six percent of oats have been harvested for grain.