Farm News
07-14-06
Hot weather pressures crops
RANDY MUDGETT- Farm News Editor
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saw fit to release an
unscheduled drought outlook July 7 warning of an expanded drought area in
portions of the Midwest.
The report said drought conditions are worsening across the northern Plains and
will begin to show its effects on Montana, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa.
While recent rains have improved conditions in parts of Missouri, Colorado and
western Kansas, the report stressed that drought conditions should begin to
intensify once hot weather settles in by mid July.
Locally, north central Iowa crop conditions have worsened slightly. At the crucial
time of tasseling and pollination, the corn crop and eventual yields will likely be
formed in the next week or two, according to crop experts. Weather forecasts,
however, do not paint a good picture for bumper crop-style yields.
‘‘Our crops are hanging in there, but they definitely short of moisture,’’ said John
Holmes, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist. ‘‘The tasseling is
uneven which reflects the uneven rate of development in corn this year.’’
Unevenness could be an understatement considering the spotty rains that have
come and gone in Iowa in the past couple of weeks. Harry Hillaker, state
climatologist, said Monday weak systems have made it hard for forecasters to
accurately predict when, where and how much rain can fall out of a particular
weather event in recent weeks.
‘‘If you get a rain now, you can count yourself lucky, as the outlook will only be
drier ahead,’’ Hillaker said.
Portions of Iowa in a 25-mile corridor received the most rain ina system that
moved through the state Tuesday. Anywhere from less than an inch in Des
Moines to upwards of 7 inches of rain fell in the slow-moving system. Northwest
Iowa was not as lucky.
Hillaker said during a drought and in summer periods like this, jet streams
weaken and possible storms also weaken. ‘‘This is an official drought if there is
such an official recognition,’’ he said. ‘‘It has been dry since May 1 and this will
persist and get drier.’’
Crop problems
On July 1 farmers in Cerro Gordo County and points east and northeastward
received 60 m.p.h. winds causing widespread damage to corn crops. According
to Brian Lang, Extension crop specialist, 20 to 80 percent breakage of corn
plants occurred in the storm. Some plants suffered greensnap where the plant
breaks at the nodes, while other stalks were pinched and others are leaning,
leading to root lodging.
Holmes said soybeans in north central Iowa have been hit hard by iron deficiency
chlorosis in areas of some fields. ‘‘I am not finding soybean aphids this year, but
first generation bean leaf beetles are now starting to emerge.’’
As the crops head into the critical pollination stage, more moisture is required of
the plant. The weekly crop report said crop condition of corn and soybeans have
worsened in the past week, but still 63 percent of corn and 58 percent of all
soybeans were rated as in either excellent or good condition.
The rain that moved through parts of the state on Monday evening and Tuesday
morning helped replenish depleted soils as some areas received in excess of 4
inches of rain, while other areas received little or no rain.
The situation in northwest Iowa is dry and getting drier, but Paul Kassel,
Extension crops specialist, said moisture is still present in some areas.
‘‘They haven’t had hardly any rain since May in the Laurens, Sac, Sioux Rapids
areas and those fields are stressed and drying up quickly,’’ Kassel said. ‘‘In the
Spencer area, you can still find moisture when you dig roots but that will not last
long as the corn is starting to tassel in this area.’’
Kassel said the Spencer area received 1/100th inch of rain Tuesday morning.
‘‘The fields still look good now, but rain is needed badly.’’