Corn condition rated 75 percent good to excellent

Iowa farmers had 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 12, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Iowa. Activities for the week included harvesting hay and oats for grain, spraying for aphids and moving grain.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 12 percent very short, 23 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 10 percent very short, 21 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels in south central and southeast Iowa remain critical with over 85 percent rated short to very short.

Seventy-three percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, 9 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn dented was at 22 percent, 9 days ahead of last year. Corn condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop was blooming with 89 percent setting pods, over a week ahead of both last year and the average. Soybean condition declined slightly to 72 percent good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of the oat crop has been harvested for grain.