Dry conditions throughout the week, with precipitation not arriving until the weekend, allowed Iowa farmers 5.5 suitable days for fieldwork for the week ending Aug. 9, according to the Aug. 10 Iowa Crop & Weather report, with seed corn detasseling nearing completion across much of Iowa.

"Crops remain in very good condition across much of the state," said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. "The rains that crossed the state this weekend were welcome in many areas. Unfortunately, some areas, especially in southern Iowa, have suffered as a result of too much moisture."

State Meteorologist Harry Hillaker said Aug. 8 evening storms brought some large hail and high winds, "with the hail reports concentrated in the vicinity of Sioux City, with most of the wind reports occurring from the Iowa Great Lakes area southeastward to near Ames."

The report stated 97 percent of corn reached the silking stage or beyond, with 51 percent reaching the dough stage or beyond, and reports came in of corn starting to dent across the state.

The report added soybeans were blooming or beyond, reaching 92 percent, with 73 percent setting pods, and 91 percent of oats for grain or seed had been harvested. Moreover, the second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 85 percent, with the third cutting 28 percent complete, and hay condition dropping slightly to 68 percent good to excellent.

Glenn Fuller, northwestern Iowa regional sales manager for Latham Hi-Tech Seeds in Alexander, said on Aug, 12, "Soybeans continue to look amazing. Last week, a lot of acres in the far northwest parts of Iowa were sprayed for aphids, mostly mixing in a fungicide. This week, the aphid pressure seems to be traveling to the southeast part of my area."