Released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

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.

“Iowa farmers once again delivered a significant corn and soybean crop in 2025, even with challenges like variable weather, disease pressures and an ag economy marked by low prices and high input costs. Strong production requires strong markets, and we will continue working to build and diversify demand at home, across the country and around the world,” Secretary Naig said. “As we gather this week with our family and friends, I invite everyone to pause for a moment and give thanks for Iowa’s hardworking farm families who produce the delicious Thanksgiving meals on our tables.”

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

Crop report

Mostly dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 23, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities were fertilizer and manure applications as well as fall tillage.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 27 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 27 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Corn harvested for grain is virtually complete at 99 percent complete.

Weather summary

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

Unseasonable warmth persisted through the final reporting period of the season with temperatures approaching eight degrees above normal in northwestern Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 43.8 degrees, 6.1 degrees above normal. Most Iowa stations reported measurable rainfall with locations across northern Iowa registering slightly above average wetness.

Cloud cover dotted the skies over western Iowa through Sunday (16ᵗʰ) afternoon with light, variable winds and temperatures in the mid 40s north to low 50s south. Monday (17ᵗʰ) dawned with light easterly winds and clear skies over most of the state, with morning temperatures holding in the upper 30s and low 40s. Southeasterly winds became gusty through the daytime hours as a low pressure center moved from Kansas into Missouri. Rain showers formed ahead of the system across western Iowa into the evening hours as spotty thundershowers popped up in north-central Iowa. Showers increased in coverage over much of Iowa’s northern two-thirds into Tuesday (18ᵗʰ) morning, with moderate rainfall observed in northern and eastern Iowa. Dewitt (Clinton County) observed 0.75 inch, with 1.00 inch in Webster City (Hamilton County) and 1.03 inches in Fort Dodge (Webster County). Widespread totals south and west were in the 0.20–0.50 inch range, with less than a tenth of an inch over southern Iowa. Overcast conditions continued through the rest of the day, with highs varying from the upper 30s over northern Iowa to low 50s along the Iowa-Missouri border.

Winds shifted back to an easterly direction overnight into Wednesday (19ᵗʰ), with extremely dense fog observed statewide at sunrise. Morning lows did not retreat appreciably from the previous day’s temperatures, aided by thick stratus above the fog bank. With increased surface heating from the rising sun, low-level atmospheric mixing helped dissipate the fog through the afternoon hours, though redevelopment occurred into the evening. Daytime conditions remained cloudy, with temperatures in the 40s and light southerly winds. Foggy conditions returned on Thursday (20ᵗʰ) morning, with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s west to mid 40s east. Afternoon conditions remained cloudy across the state, with fog lingering and temperatures four to six degrees warmer than the morning minimums. Stars were finally visible over northern Iowa into Friday (21ᵗʰ), where temperatures dropped into the upper 20s and low 30s with light northerly winds; farther south, stubborn cloud cover persisted. Spotty showers developed across southern Iowa through the day as a surface boundary lifted north from Missouri. Rain totals were generally light, from 0.20 inch in Numa (Appanoose County) to 0.26 inch in Randolph (Fremont County). Morning conditions were overcast and foggy in northeastern Iowa on Saturday (22ⁿᵈ), with fog extending into south-central Iowa under clear skies. Overall temperatures were in the upper 20s and low 30s but warmed into the mid 50s to low 60s by the afternoon hours with gusty westerly winds prior to sunset. Clear skies were reported at sunrise on Sunday (23ʳᵈ), with patchy frozen fog and lows ranging from the mid 20s in northwest Iowa to low 30s farther southeast.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at multiple stations in southern and northwest Iowa to 1.03 inches in Fort Dodge. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.20 inch, while the normal is 0.43 inch. Multiple stations reported the week’s high temperature of 59 degrees on the 17ᵗʰ, on average 12 degrees above normal. Several stations recorded the week’s low temperature of 22 degrees on the 22nd and 23rd, on average two degrees below normal.