The northeastern part of Ohio was down on its average precipitation by almost a full inch for the last week of June, according to NASS. The region received only 0.13 inch for the entire week; statewide, rainfall was only 0.39 inch, or 0.77 inch below normal. Since April 1, the average of the entire state was down just over 4 inches, though some areas were nearly 6 inches below normal rainfall for this time of year.

Ripe winter wheat was well ahead of the five-year average for Ohio, at 97 percent compared to 52 percent, and 65 percent harvested, compared to 12 percent for the average. The rate of second cutting of alfalfa, at 68 percent, also left its five-year average of 29 percent in the dust.

Silked corn was at 7 percent, compared a 2 percent five-year average, and the state crop was 33 percent good to excellent condition (mostly just good), 41 percent fair, 18 percent poor and 8 percent very poor.

Soybeans were rated 3 percent excellent, 26 percent good, 41 percent fair, 21 percent poor and 9 percent very poor; last year at the same time, more than half the crop was rated in good condition. They are blooming at a faster rate than normal, however, at 21 percent compared to the 11 percent five-year average.

A narrow band of storms last week was not enough to provide relief to most growers needing more rain for their crops. High temperatures continued as well, stressing crops.

Heat advisories were posted last week at most of the state’s weather stations. Temperatures in the morning were in the 70s and 80s at all of the stations last Thursday. Seven days were suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 1, according to the most recent USDA crop progress and condition report.

“It’s not looking good,” said Gerald Tillman, deputy director of the NASS Michigan field office. “If we don’t get some rain, there’s going to be some concern about the amount of stress the field crops can take. I’d say the next one or two weeks could be crucial.”

Tillman added at least things haven’t been as bad in Michigan as in neighboring Indiana and Illinois, which have had similar conditions.

“At least we had some cooler days; we had some 90- and 80-degree days, a little cooler,” he said. “We were not even above double digits above normal. When you look at corn, you’re looking at a crucial growth period. Even with heat-tolerant corn – I don’t think this is what the chemists had in mind.”

The wheat harvest was in full swing, two weeks ahead of normal. The hay harvest was well under way, too, but lack of rain was affecting regrowth.

Tillman said the big story in Michigan continues to be the disastrous fruit harvest. On June 28 the Michigan Apple Committee announced a 90 percent loss of the state’s apple crop.

Although Iowa saw precipitation early and again late (June 24-July 2), the bulk of that week was sunny and hot with record high temperatures in many areas – and with additional rain still needed to relieve stress on crops and improve conditions.

The July 2 Iowa Crop & Weather report stated 16 percent of corn is silking, with 26 percent of soybeans now blooming. Sixty-eight percent of oats have turned color, with 20 percent harvested. The second cutting of alfalfa hay is 76 percent complete.

Mark Grundmeier, soybean product manager at Latham Hi-Tech Seeds in Alexander, said iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is now a serious threat to soybeans.

IDC is a function of the soil type common in what’s referred to as the “Des Moines Lobe,” an area covering most of central Iowa, continuing north into Minnesota and even further north and west into the Red River Valley region.

“I’ve received an unusually high number of calls this spring from people who have noticed all the ‘yellow soybean fields,’” Grundmeier wrote in his July 2 crop report. “Unfortunately, once IDC is noticed in a field, it’s too late to really manage it properly this season,” but “be proactive when choosing future soybean varieties for these fields.”