Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report — July 16, 2024

Jul 16, 2024 | Crop Report

From the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Although the first half of July was cooler and wetter than average, Iowa’s tasseling corn encountered some summer heat and humidity this past weekend,” Secretary Naig said. “Monday’s thunderstorms will give way to more seasonal conditions and cooler temperatures. This will be welcome news for our state’s livestock as well as those participating in county fairs around the state.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop report

Most of the State received below normal rainfall and experienced mild temperatures. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 14, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and applying fungicides.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Corn silking or beyond reached 44 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn crop in the dough stage reached 6 percent, 5 days ahead of the average.

Corn condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. Soybean crop blooming reached 50 percent, 3 days behind last year. Soybeans setting pods reached 12 percent, 1 day behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 72 percent good to excellent. Oats turning color reached 82 percent, 5 days ahead of the average. Oat harvest for grain jumped to 26 percent complete, 1 week ahead of the average. Oat condition was 77 percent good to excellent.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 57 percent complete, 5 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the average. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. Some pastures remain flooded and where floodwaters have receded some pastures are covered in silt.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowans experienced near-normal temperatures for most of the reporting period before unseasonable warmth returned towards the end of the week; the statewide average temperature was 73.7 degrees, 1.0 degree below normal. Rainfall was reported statewide, though most stations registered below average totals; only the far northeast corner received above normal rain.

Thundershowers continued to fire on Sunday (7th) afternoon with stronger storms forming in western and northern Iowa over the evening hours. The cells consolidated as they moved into central Iowa and then pushed east through the early morning hours of Monday (8th). There were several reports of severe straight line winds and large hail; Albion (Marshall County) registered a 69 mph gust while two-inch hail was observed in Sheldon (O’Brien County). More than half of Iowa’s stations reporting rainfall had at least 0.30 inch with higher totals from north-central to southeast Iowa; Marshalltown (Marshall County) measured 1.61 inches with 2.01 inches at Bloomfield (Davis County). Clouds cleared west to east through the day with temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s. Spotty thundershowers also popped across eastern Iowa with several stations reporting measurable amounts near an inch; two Lee County stations, Fort Madison and West Point, reported 0.71 and 0.93 inch, respectively. Clear skies and light winds developed overnight with Tuesday (9th) morning lows in the mid to upper 60s. High level clouds from the remains of Hurricane Beryl overspread the state into the afternoon with highs ranging from the low 70s southeast to low 80s northwest. An upper level low pressure center sitting over the Upper Midwest spun showers and thunderstorms into northern Iowa after midnight with further development later in the day on Wednesday (10th). Stronger storms formed along the Iowa-Missouri border into the evening where locally heavy downpours were observed. Slow moving thunderstorms persisted in east-central Iowa over the early hours of Wednesday (10th). Morning lows dropped into the upper 50s in western Iowa with conditions up to ten degrees warmer east. Rain totals were highest in eastern and southwest Iowa with 1.20 inches in Creston (Union County) and 2.13 inches in Coralville (Johnson County). General rainfall amounts were in the 0.20 to 0.40 inch range with a statewide average of 0.23 inch. Daytime conditions were partly cloudy with variable winds and temperatures in the lows 70s north to low 80s south.

High pressure dominated the weather pattern on Thursday (11th) with morning temperatures in the 60s and patchy fog across southern Iowa. Wind shifted to the east through the day with pleasant temperatures in the low 80s under mostly sunny skies. Stars were visible overnight into Friday (12th) as morning temperatures bottomed out in the low to mid 60s. A shift to southeasterly winds boosted highs in the upper 80s over western Iowa while the low to mid 80s were reported across the rest of Iowa. Foggy conditions were observed at daybreak on Saturday (13th) with unseasonably warm morning temperatures in the low 70s under generally clear skies. Gusty southerly winds built in through the day with temperatures from the mid 80s northeast to low 90s south and west. Spotty clouds developed in central to northeastern Iowa as a fast moving complex of thunderstorms, some severe, moved along the Iowa-Wisconsin border after sunset. A secondary line moved over the same region with additional development in eastern Iowa into early Sunday (14th). Several stations in northeastern Iowa observed rainfall with 0.50 inch in Dubuque (Dubuque County) and Elkader (Clayton County) to 0.98 inch at Guttenberg Lock and Dam (Clayton County).

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from a trace at Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) to 2.56 inches in Lowden (Cedar County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.70 inch, while the normal is 1.05 inches. Little Sioux (Harrison County) reported the week’s high temperature of 94 degrees on the 13th, eight degrees above normal. Mapleton (Monona County) reported the week’s low temperature of 53 degrees on the 10th, nine degrees below normal.

Craig Allen Wedemeyer 

Jul 16, 2024 | Obituaries

1956-2024

Craig Allen Wedemeyer, age 67, of Adair, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Specialty Care Center in Urbandale.

Craig Allen Wedemeyer was born in Audubon on Sept. 21, 1956, to Leland and Marjorie (Frederick) Wedemeyer of rural Audubon County. He was their second child. Ten years later, a third son, Alan Dean “AJ” Wedemeyer, was added to the family.

Craig grew up with a love for all things mechanical and had hoped to own his own semi one day.

During his senior year of high school, he worked as the night manager for the Happy Chef Restaurant in Adair and gradually added working for Keith Gilliland at the Standard Station next door to the restaurant.

Craig graduated from Anita High School in 1975 and continued working for Keith until the business was sold to Ben Morris. The business became known as Morris I-80 Standard. He worked long and late hours for Morris, taking technical training at DMACC and was a fully certified ASE mechanic. His love was really for the towing (wrecker) business.

In March 1981, Craig was called out to tow in a drunk driver. This call would change the rest of his life. This is where he would meet his future wife, Brenda. It was love at first sight for both. (Note: Brenda was NOT the drunk driver!) They would share this story of how they “met by accident” many times through the years.

Craig and Brenda Lee (Deschler) were united in marriage a year later, on March 6, 1982. To this union, one son, Timothy John, was born. Tim would be the driving force behind his dad’s realization of the dream to one day own his own trucks.

A favorite story from the shop was the day an unknown contractor driving on Interstate 80 inadvertently dropped a case of nails on the highway. This began a mad rush in the shop as car after car pulled in to get their tires patched or put on new tires. As Craig told it: “You should’ve seen it! We were out there running every air hose we had changing or patching tires!”

Craig was always proud of the work he did in conjunction with the Iowa State Patrol, from taking gas out to stranded motorists (boring, but part of the job!) to accident recovery. He had a camaraderie with the officers that was much appreciated. After these instances, there was always a fresh, hot cup of coffee waiting back at the station and, occasionally, homemade chili made by his wife, Brenda.

We would be remiss not to mention his love for cats! They were ALL named “Fred,” even the females. 

Craig also greatly enjoyed his three terms serving on the Adair City Council and had a hand in the new Adair Community Center building project.

Craig was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and his brother, Mark, who died in infancy.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda; his son, Timothy John, Tim’s wife, Amanda, and their children Emmett, Violet, and Cooper; his brother, “AJ” and his wife, Annette; niece, Rachel Wedemeyer, and nephew, David Wedemeyer; his mother-in-law, Norita Gour; and “Fred.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Adair Community Building. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, and a luncheon will follow the service.

Interment will be held at Sunnyhill Cemetery following the luncheon.

Memorials may be directed to the Craig Wedemeyer Family, to be designated later to many of his favorite local organizations and charities. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Services are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair.

Cribbage results from July 12 and July 15

Jul 16, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

On July 12, a total of eight players participated. Deb Kiefer got three 16s, Allen Pierce racked in a 17 and a 20, Dan Webb had a 16, and Rhonda Titus came up with a 16 and a 20.

On July 15, a total of 12 players participated. Dave Richter got a 16, and Dan Webb got lucky with a 24. Rhonda Titus and Wayne Nickel both got a 16 and a 17, while Jim Carico  player got a 17.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the assisted living rec room at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Guthrie Center Activity Center at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

Painting with pom poms

Jul 16, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette 

Art on State had 13 kids painting with pom poms on July 10. The young artists added more painting techniques as part of their painting exercises. Next Wednesday, artists will put bottle caps, buttons and bells into wind chimes.

Art on State is an art gallery created by the Guthrie County Arts Council as an opportunity to bring together the artists of the county, encouraging them in their talents by providing means to display and sell their work and to bring awareness of artistic endeavors to the community at large by presenting performing and visual arts programs. Art on State is located at 320 State St. in Guthrie Center. Learn more at www.guthriecountyartscouncil.org.

Charlotte, James and Lydia love painting.

Ainsley, Hadley, Wren and Addy paint with pom poms.

Troy and Braylon

Georgia and Baylor

Charlotte enjoys her treat.

Lawson loves to paint.

Have a treasured rock or fossil you are curious about?

Jul 16, 2024 | News

Dr. Kata McCarville

Special to the Times Vedette

Dr. Kata McCarville will join Whiterock Conservancy on July 21 at the Bur Oak Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to noon. If you have a treasured rock or fossil you are curious about, Dr. McCarville can do identifications before or after the talk. Pack and transport items carefully as many are fragile.

Iowa’s geological past is reflected in its phenomenal fossil record, which includes many extinct organisms, from trilobites to giant ground sloths. With a focus on the “Ice Age” Pleistocene megafauna — mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, bison, and others — we will learn about how animals influence plant communities and landscapes, and where some of the impacts of extinction on Iowa’s ecosystems can still be seen today. Join to learn about Iowa’s extinct ecosystems and what has been left behind to learn from.

Dr. McCarville got started with Iowa geology in 2005 when she joined the faculty at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Born at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, she is a river rat. She’s spent time on and along many Iowa rivers, as well as the Colorado, Green, Platte, Snake, and Mississippi.

Dr. McCarville has roots in the Midwest but grew up in California. She studied geology at UCLA as an undergraduate and worked as a uranium miner in Wyoming after graduation. She took a master’s degree in geology Colorado School of Mines, working on uranium deposits in the Red Desert basin of Wyoming, and then worked for a number of years in computing and networking at universities and for engineering consulting firms. As a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow, she did her doctoral work in avian paleontology of Fossil Lake, Oregon, at the South Dakota School of Mines. Her work resulted in an innovative interpretation for the locality, as a volcanic maar.

Dr. McCarville’s interests span the earth and environmental sciences and often cross disciplinary boundaries. Her current research centers on the origins of the Iowan Erosion Surface, soil health and soil organisms, and the role of disturbance in prairie ecosystems.

These programs are free and open to the public. Call the Whiterock Conservancy office at 712-790-8221 x2 or email guestinfo@whiterockconservancy.org for questions or more information. Whiterock Conservancy is located at 1436 Highway 141, Coon Rapids.