Most of corn crop has silked

Iowa farmers had 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 5, 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, 24 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 10 percent very short, 21 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels in south central and southeast Iowa continued to fall with 48 percent considered very short.

Almost all of the corn crop has silked. Fifty-five percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, over a week ahead of average. Corn dented was at eight percent. Corn condition fell to 75 percent good to excellent. Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop was blooming with 81 percent setting pods, over a week ahead of both last year and the average. Soybean condition declined slightly to 74 percent good to excellent. Eighty-two percent of the oat crop has been harvested for grain.