Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA
08-01-06
Crops thrive on heat, rain still needed
By MATTHEW WILDE, Courier Staff Writer
SARATOGA --- Northeast Iowa farmers should start playing the lottery.
Producers have dodged nearly every bullet Mother Nature has shot lately. High
winds, extreme heat and hail have all impacted corn and soybeans in different
parts of the region, and crops appear to have survived nicely. Combine that with
more rainfall, on average, than other parts of the state, and farmers could be
harvesting another good crop.
Monday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report said
northeastern counties experienced the most plentiful rains to date, but some
areas remain short on moisture. Rainfall remains sporadic, varying greatly in
locations just a short distance apart.
"We need uncomfortable conditions for humans to promote corn growth," said
George Cummins, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist based in
Charles City. "But even this is not really desirable."
Despite being short of moisture and temperatures 10 degrees hotter than what's
considered optimal for crop development, timely rains have helped crops in the
area thrive.
"There's 200-bushel plots out there, I'm confident of that," Cummins said, as long
as the weather cooperates.
Seventy percent of Northeast Iowa topsoil either has a surplus of moisture or is
rated adequate, compared to 33 percent statewide. Local subsoil moisture is
rated 58 percent adequate, compared to 29 percent across the state.
The high humidity has helped crops weather a period of less-than-consistent
rainfall. Dew remains on plants longer in the morning, helping them remain moist.
"I'm waiting until 9 a.m. to walk through (soybean) fields, or the canopy gets your
pant legs all wet," Cummins said.
Straight-line winds on July 19-20 caused modest to severe root lodging in parts
of Howard, Winneshiek, Fayette and Chickasaw counties. Kurt Grover near
Saratoga said winds in excess of 60 mph bent about 40 percent of his corn crop.
Stalks leaned at anywhere from a 2-degree angle to 50 degrees.
Since the roots weren't completely ripped from the ground, the corn continued to
develop and a good majority is standing up straight again. Grover said there's an
80 percent chance yields won't be impacted. If they are, it won't be by much.
"I was real surprised. The corn looks promising," Grover said.
The report said 46 percent of the state's corn is in the milk stage, while 11
percent has reached the dough stage. Development is eight days ahead of the
five-year average.
The corn condition statewide is rated 5 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 26
percent fair, 42 percent good and 15 percent excellent.
Grover, who often scouts his crops by air, said farmers may notice some weed
pressure emerge in wind-blown fields. Sunlight reached weeds once shaded by
corn leaves, which could cause them to grow again.
Soybeans are setting pods in 66 percent of the fields statewide as of Sunday,
ahead of the five-year average of 52 percent. The crop is rated 4 percent very
poor, 12 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 44 percent good and 11 percent excellent.
The oat harvest is 81 percent complete as of Sunday. The high heat has taken a
toll on the cool-season grain, with preliminary reports averaging 67 to 115
bushels per acre. Test weights are in the 33 to 35 pounds per bushel range.
Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.