While there were 6.5 days of suitable fieldwork statewide – the most this growing season – for the week ending Aug. 3, the lack of precipitation caused a drop in soil moisture, according to the Aug. 4 Iowa Crop & Weather report.

"Much of the state could use a shower – especially to help the soybeans as they set and fill pods during August," said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

State Meteorologist Harry Hillaker said temperature extremes for the week varied from morning lows of 46 degrees in Sheldon, to the highest temperatures on the afternoon of Aug. 2, of 87 degrees in Cresco, Des Moines, Osceola and Rock Rapids.

The report said 93 percent of corn was at or beyond the silking stage and in or past the dough stage, which reached 36 percent, double the normal amount. In addition, a few farmers reported corn starting to dent, with 77 percent in good to excellent condition.

The report also stated 91 percent of soybeans was blooming or beyond, with 65 percent setting pods, well ahead of last year’s 32 percent. With almost the entire oat acreage turning color, oat harvest for grain was 69 percent complete. Moreover, the second cutting of alfalfa hay was 85 percent complete, with the third cutting advancing to 9 percent complete.

Clarke McGrath, Iowa State University extension field agronomist, advised farmers to watch their corn for disease increases for a couple more weeks. "We are seeing some northern corn leaf blight, eyespot, common rust and a little gray leaf spot in area fields," he said.

"In addition to the disease present already, southern corn rust (SCR) has shown up close to us in southeast Nebraska. While we don’t have any reports of it in our area, it could show up and impact our corn," he added. "While the odds of this aren’t extraordinarily high, scouting for it will ensure you are on top of it."