Crops’ conditions take dip after hot, dry week

images (2) Iowa’s crop conditions slipped slightly and lagged behind last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.

The drop in ratings and slowness in corn and soybean progress is the aftermath of Iowa’s hot July.

While the extreme heat of the first half of last week has abated, Iowa continues to be dry.

“The statewide average precipitation was 0.50 inch or a little more than one-half of the weekly normal of 0.94 inch,” State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said Monday.

The July heat gave rise to fears that the crop would not pollinate properly. Farmers in central and southern Iowa reported lower kernel counts and smaller ear populations.

“Hopefully the more seasonable weather forecast for this week will benefit crops stressed by the heat,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said.

The National Weather Service forecasts high temperatures in the upper 70s for the most of the week for Iowa, but with little chance for rain until Thursday and Friday.

The USDA report showed that the percentage of Iowa’s corn crop rated good to excellent dipped slightly from 75 percent last week to 73 percent for the week ended Sunday.

The soybean ratings were down similarly, from 76 percent to 75 percent.

A more technical analysis shows a crop that is lagging behind last year.

Iowa’s corn is behind schedule for the dough stage, or the period 24 to 28 days after silking when the kernel’s milky inner fluid changes to a firmer consistency as starch accumulates.

The USDA said 19 percent of Iowa’s corn is at dough stage, compared with 34 percent last year and 39 percent for the five-year average.

Soybean pod setting also lags, from 79 percent of the crop last year at this time to 69 percent at the end of last week.

Iowa’s good to excellent ratings for corn were still ahead of several other states.

Illinois reported 50 percent good to excellent; Indiana, 41 percent; Missouri, 42 percent and Ohio, 50 percent. Meanwhile Nebraska and Wisconsin reported 79 percent good to excellent and Minnesota, 74 percent.

The USDA will report on supply and demand conditions Thursday. Meanwhile commodity markets were more concerned Monday with the sell-off in all markets.

Corn was down 17 cents per bushel to $6.75. Soybeans fell 22 cents per bushel to $13.09, and wheat was down 22 cents to $6.56.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110809/BUSINESS/110808027/-1/GALLERY_ARRAY/Crops-conditions-take-dip-after-hot-dry-week-


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