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Dry weather is taking a toll on Iowa’s crops

Dry conditions continue to take a toll on Iowa’s corn and soybean crops.

The latest crop progress report rates Iowa’s corn crop at 64 percent good to excellent, down one point from last week. Soybeans also declined slightly and are rated 59 percent good to excellent.

Deb Keller, who farms near Clarion in northcentral Iowa, says the dry weather is likely taking the top end off of their corn yield potential.

“Two weeks ago, I’d say we had an excellent crop,” Keller says. “I’m going to back down a little bit because we’ve been a little bit dry. I would say average to slight above at this point.”

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 38 percent complete and hay condition dropped to 51 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition also dropped, now down to 34 percent good to excellent.

“The cooler temperatures we saw last week were welcome, but the lack of significant rainfall means drought conditions remain in place for many parts of Iowa, with severe drought in much of southcentral and southeast Iowa,” said Iowa ag secretary Bill Northey.