Precipitation amounts varied widely across Iowa the week of Aug. 15-21, with crop conditions holding steady or improving slightly in areas which received timely rains, according to the Aug. 22 Iowa Crop & Weather report.

“Most of the crops in the state would benefit from additional rainfall,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. “However, the exception might be found in areas of southwest Iowa which dealt with heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail last week.”

The report said crop conditions have begun to deteriorate in areas that didn’t receive timely rains. But southwestern Iowa had “high winds and hail, which did damage to crops, grain storage and homes.”

The report said 95 percent of the corn has reached the milk stage, with more than three-quarters reaching the dough stage and 41 percent in the dent stage. Corn condition declined slightly, to 4 percent very poor and 15 percent excellent.

Nearly all the soybeans are blooming, with pods setting on 92 percent, the report added. Some soybean fields have begun turning color, with soybean condition also declining slightly to 4 percent very poor and 17 percent excellent.

The oat harvest is nearly complete, the report said, with the second-cutting alfalfa hay harvest nearly complete and the third cutting at 59 percent complete.

Jeff Blauwett, agronomy technology specialist at Farmers Elevator Co-op in Doon, said although most soybean fields in northwestern Iowa were treated with fungicide and insecticide, aphids never really exploded.
“We haven’t seen much for bean leaf beetles showing up either yet,” he said. “We do have many beans that got quite tall and are lodging now. I am afraid we will have huge plants with low yields, which just doesn’t look right.”
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent

Kentucky

While a growing portion of the state is making the U.S. Drought Monitor map, some parts have received much-needed rain over the last couple of weeks.
As of the Aug. 21 report from the NASS’ Kentucky Field Office, topsoil moisture was rated 13 percent very short, 40 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus, while subsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 36 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

While the eastern United States was drenched with rainfall from Hurricane Irene last weekend, Kentucky just missed out on any of that tropical moisture.
Crop-wise, the state’s corn condition was rated as 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 49 percent good and 16 percent excellent, according to the NASS report. The early harvest continued in western Kentucky.

Soybean conditions were rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 47 percent good and 12 percent excellent.

The NASS report noted double-crop beans still have a chance at good yields if adequate rains are present during the remainder of the growing season.
The Aug. 21 report noted 14 percent of the burley tobacco had been cut, as compared to 25 percent last year, and 24 percent of the dark tobacco crop had been cut, slightly ahead of last year.

By Tim Thornberry
Kentucky Correspondent

Tennessee
Rain was a much-needed commodity in Tennessee during the week ending Aug. 21. According to a report from NASS, the entire state was in need of rainfall, leaving farmers concerned their crops might quickly deteriorate without a good soaking soon.

Topsoil moisture levels across the state were rated at almost 50 percent short, with 19 percent rated very short and only 38 percent rated as adequate. Subsoil levels fared only a few percentage points better, with 16 percent very short, 41 percent short and 43 percent adequate, according to NASS and the National Weather Service.

Despite the continuing need for more moisture, corn, soybean, tobacco and cotton crops keep hanging in at good-to-excellent conditions. However, pastures continue to suffer from the lack of rain, with the majority of them in fair-to-good condition, according to the NASS report.

“Farmers were busy this past week harvesting second and third cuttings of hay, spraying beans with fungicides and herbicides and getting ready to begin harvesting corn, with some limited shelling taking place. Insect and disease pressure has been light to moderate in soybeans and cotton. Pastures are showing signs of needing rain, no hay feeding yet,” reported Ed Burns, extension agent for Franklin County.

“No rain for the last eight days, combined with high temps, has started to roll the corn leaves and has stopped grass growth on most pastures. Too early to tell about fall hay, but even the Johnson grass looks stressed,” Scott Chadwell, Putnam County agent, said.

“Less than an inch of rain since mid-July make things look really bad. Most pastures are gone. Ponds are getting very low, and producers are feeding hay or have sold some cattle. Apple harvest is under way, with some varieties being very small due to dry conditions. We need some relief, but there is not much help in sight,” lamented Kim Frady, agent for Bradley County.

“Drought conditions are with us again, with only 1.88 inches of rain in July and 0.32 of an inch in 19 days of August. Almost every day during this time, we have been 90 degrees or more, and 90 percent of that time, pushing 100 degrees,” said Hamilton County agent Tom Stebbins.

“We have weaned some calves early, and they were lighter than expected due to the drought and heat. We also have been feeding hay to half our herd for the last 10 days, and we will have to start feeding the other half by the first of the week.”

By Tesa Nauman
Tennessee Correspondent