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.

“With the historically wet September, Iowa’s harvest got off to a late start, and our farmers are a good two weeks behind on their normal progress,” Secretary Naig said. “Most of the state experienced favorable weather conditions last week allowing farmers to make headway, where field conditions allowed. With unseasonably warm, mostly dry weather in the forecast this week, farmers should have more opportunities to keep harvest moving. As activity picks up, I remind drivers to watch for farm equipment, slow down and be patient. A successful harvest means everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.” 

Crop report

There were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 18, 2026. Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Ninety-eight percent of corn has reached maturity, which is even with the five-year average. Twenty-six percent of corn has been harvested, which is 24 percentage points behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 72 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 2 percentage points behind the five-year average. Fifty-seven percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 17 percentage points behind the five-year average. Pasture condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/publication/crop-progress.

Weather summary

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

The first widespread frost and freeze occurred over much of Iowa towards the end of the reporting period, with lows falling into the upper 20s at multiple stations. Rainfall was also above-normal for pockets of the state as multiple systems brought longer-duration rainfall. Temperatures remained above normal with positive departures nearing nine degrees in eastern Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 56.9 degrees, 5.4 degrees above normal.

Sunday (11^th) afternoon and Monday (12^th) were summerlike days with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s with southerly winds and sunny skies; the statewide average high was 87 degrees, 21 degrees above normal. Morning lows into Tuesday (13^th) varied from the upper 40s west to low 60s east as clouds advanced from the west, covering the state by the late afternoon hours. Isolated thunderstorms moved through southern Iowa during the morning hours, with numerous stations reporting a few tenths of an inch with a pocket of higher totals southeast; Fort Madison (Lee County) collected 0.91 inch. Overcast conditions persisted through the day with additional thunderstorms popping up in eastern Iowa into the late afternoon hours. Additional storms fired over extreme southeast Iowa after sunset. Several stations near Burlington (Des Moines County) reported more than an inch, with totals ranging from 1.05 inches to 1.41 inches at the Burlington Municipal Airport. The highest total of 1.52 inches was found at the National Weather Service co-op station in Augusta (Lee County). Northerly winds and cloudy skies held into Wednesday (14^th) with morning temperatures in the mid 40s north to low 60s south. Winds turned easterly as two low pressure centers approached Iowa from the west. Daytime temperatures rose into the 50s across much of the state with 60s along the Iowa-Illinois border. Showers pushed into western Iowa around midnight and overspread much of the state by late morning on Thursday (15^th) and continued over most of the daylight hours. Afternoon temperatures only rose into the 50s as blustery northwesterly winds built in as the low’s attendant cold front swept through the state. Nearly 100 stations reported an inch or more with the highest totals in north-central to eastern Iowa; Cedar Falls (Black Hawk County) registered 1.51 inches with 1.56 inches in Boone (Boone County) and 2.77 inches in Eagle Grove (Wright County). With high pressure building across the Upper Midwest in close proximity to the exiting low pressure center, strong northerly winds developed into Friday (16^th). Isolated showers also produced drizzle and light rain throughout the day with highs hovering in the low 50s. Starry skies prevailed into Saturday (17^th) morning with lows dropping below freezing over a wide swath of northern Iowa for the first time this season; the statewide average low was 31 degrees, eight degrees below normal. A shift to southerly winds allowed temperatures to rise into the upper 50s with cloudless skies. Sunday (18^th) dawned with light winds from the south and lows in the upper 30s to low 40s.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no measurable totals at multiple south-central stations to 2.80 inches in Eagle Grove (Wright County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.86 inch, while the normal is 0.62 inch. Little Sioux (Harrison County) and Vinton (Benton County) reported the week’s high temperature of 91 degrees on the 12^th, on average 27 degrees above normal. Audubon (Audubon County) and Mapleton (Monona County) reported the week’s low temperature of 26 degrees on the 17^th and 18^th, respectively, on average 11 degrees below normal.

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.

“Harvest is in full swing across Iowa but farmers are continuing to battle wet field conditions following one of the wettest Septembers on record,” Secretary Naig said. “Farmers took advantage of last week’s warm, mostly dry weather to get combines rolling and make significant harvest progress. With more favorable weather in the forecast, we expect another busy week as farmers keep combines moving, seed cover crops and tackle other fall farm work.”

Crop report

There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 11, 2026. Topsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Ninety-five percent of corn has reached maturity, which is on par with the five-year average. Fourteen percent of corn has been harvested, which is 20 percentage points behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. Ninety-four percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 2 percentage points behind the five-year average. Thirty-one percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 28 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 69 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/publication/crop-progress.

Weather summary

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

After four consecutive reporting periods with above-average rainfall, the first full week of October was unseasonably dry across the state. Thunderstorms brought heavy rain and sizable hail along a northwest to southeast swath, while many stations dried out through the week. Temperatures were also substantially above normal with positive departures nearing 15 degrees at some locations; the statewide average temperature was 65.5 degrees, 9.0 degrees above normal.

Pleasant conditions persisted through Sunday (4^th) afternoon with ample sunshine, light northerly winds and temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Skies remained clear into Monday (5^th), allowing morning lows to drop into the low 40s with calm to light, variable winds. Winds shifted to a southerly direction through the day with 70s statewide, cloudless skies and low relative humidity. Southerly winds continued through Tuesday (6^th) helping low temperatures rise into the upper 50s across western Iowa. Gusty conditions developed into the afternoon hours with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s east to low to mid 80s west and increasing low level moisture transport. Winds gradually died down and shifted northwesterly as a cold front dropped through the state into the overnight hours as temperatures held in the 50s across much of the state; morning lows dipped into the mid 40s in northwestern Iowa behind the front. Wednesday (7^th) continued a string of nice days with sunshine and daytime highs in the 70s over much of Iowa; low 80s were observed across southern Iowa with slightly higher dewpoints than stations farther north.

Thursday (8^th) dawned with generally calm winds and morning lows in the mid 40s with some clouds over central Iowa. A warm front draped across southwestern Iowa slowly propagated north through the day, with airmass conditions south of the boundary warmer and more humid. Showers developed over the Iowa-South Dakota border by the evening hours, with strong isolated thunderstorms firing along the northwest-southeast oriented surface front. Several storms produced very tall updrafts which supported sporadic large hail reports from Plymouth County to Dallas County; reports were in the 1.00-1.50 inch diameter range with a 1.75 inch sighting near Wall Lake (Sac County) and in Cumming (Warren County). Heavy rainfall was also observed along the swath with 35 stations at or over 1.00 inch; Orange County (Sioux City) had 1.51 inches, 1.91 inches in Gilbert (Story County) and 1.93 inches in Cherokee (Cherokee County). Friday (9^th) began clear with breezy easterly winds turning southerly into the afternoon hours, helping boost temperatures from the mid 80s across central Iowa to low 90s southwest. Saturday (10^th) morning was warm, dry and clear statewide with morning temperatures from the upper 50s east to upper 60s west. The daytime hours were quite warm, in the mid to upper 80s, as southerly winds increased and skies remained cloudless; the statewide average high was  85 degrees, 20 degrees above normal. Temperatures remained unseasonably warm into Sunday (11^th) with low 60s northwest to low 50s southeast under starlit skies and light southerlies.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no measurable totals at numerous stations to 1.93 inches in Cherokee (Cherokee County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.55 inch, while the normal is 0.69 inch. Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the week’s high temperature of 93 degrees on the 10^th, 27 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the week’s low temperature of 36 degrees on the 5^th, six degrees below normal.

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.

“After a historically wet September, we finally got a stretch of dry weather. The warmer temperatures and sunshine are helping fields dry down, though some of the wetter areas are going to need several more days before equipment can roll,” Secretary Naig said. “The good news is the forecast looks favorable, with warmer and drier conditions expected over the next week, and that will give farmers a window to make some progress in the field.”

Crop report

There were 1.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 4, 2026. Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 45 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 34 percent surplus. Eighty-five percent of corn has reached maturity, which is 3 percentage points behind the five-year average. Seven percent of corn has been harvested, which is 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 72 percent good to excellent. Eighty-one percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 9 percentage points behind the five-year average. Five percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 33 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 70 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 69 percent good to excellent.

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

Weather summary

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

After a very wet start to the reporting period influenced by moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Polo, a major pattern shift finally brought drier weather to Iowa. Temperatures also rebounded to above normal with positive departures approaching six degrees; the statewide average temperature was 61.8 degrees, 4.0 degrees above normal.

Showers lingered across eastern Iowa into Sunday (27^th) afternoon with overcast skies statewide and temperatures rising into the evening hours; upper 70s were observed in southwest Iowa with upper 60s southeast and upper 50s northeast. Foggy conditions developed around sunrise on Monday (28^th) under persisting cloud cover and morning lows in the low 60s. Clear skies in the southeast corner helped temperatures drop into the mid 50s with a light northerly wind. Sunshine returned to much of southern Iowa through the day with highs reaching into the mid to upper 70s; cloud cover farther north held temperatures in the 60s. Southeasterly winds developed overnight into Tuesday (29^th) under starry skies with temperatures in the mid to upper 50s east to low 60s west. Clouds increased through the day as showers pushed into western Iowa by the late afternoon hours. Rainfall overspread the state into the morning hours on Wednesday (30^th) with widespread fog, light southerly winds and temperatures in the 60s. Much of southern Iowa received between 0.50 to 1.50 inches with higher totals southwest to south-central; several stations reported more than 2.00 inches with 2.07 inches in Creston (Union County) to 2.40 inches in Indianola (Warren County) and a statewide average of 0.70 inch. A more potent low pressure center advancing through Nebraska brought initial lines of moderate to heavy rainfall to western Iowa by midnight, necessitating flash flood warnings. Higher rainfall rates spread across west-central to north-central Iowa, with a swath of more than a month’s worth of rainfall along the surface warm front; Logan (Harrison County) reported 4.68 inches, Earling (Shelby County) hit 4.93 inches with 5.51 inches in Portsmouth (Harrison County). Widespread 2.00-4.00 inch totals at over 60 stations extended northeast and along the periphery of the high-intensity swath; 178 stations collected at least an inch with a statewide average of 1.18 inches.

The system and its attendant cold front continued into eastern Iowa through Thursday (1^st) with clearing skies and a shift to northerly winds in western Iowa. Rainfall was generally over by sunrise on Friday (2^nd) with morning lows in the mid to upper 40s in northwestern Iowa, behind the surface boundary. Rain totals were highest in the southeast corner with a handful of stations over 2.00 inches; Le Claire Lock and Dam (Scott County) registered 2.01 inches with 2.62 inches in Wapello (Louisa County) and 4.15 inches in Muscatine (Muscatine County). Air temperatures warmed into the low 60s with light and variable winds, beginning a string of pleasant days not seen since early September. Morning lows on Saturday (3^rd) were in the mid to upper 40s with pockets of low 50s. Ample sunshine and gusty southerly winds pushed temperatures back into the 60s with low dewpoints, promoting evaporation of shallow soil moisture. Star lit skies persisted into Sunday (4^th) with morning temperatures in the 50s.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.06 inch in Sheldon (O’Brien County) to 6.49 inches in Portsmouth. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.99 inches, while the normal is 0.74 inch. Mount Pleasant (Henry County) reported the week’s high temperature of 84 degrees on the 29^th, 12 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the week’s low temperature of 34 degrees from the 2^nd, 10 degrees below normal.

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.

“Wet conditions persisted last week, with much of the state receiving above-average rainfall. This month is on track to go down as one of the warmest and wettest Septembers on record for the state of Iowa,” Secretary Naig said. “As we move into October, warm weather is expected to continue, and we may finally get a break from the rain. Farmers are eager to harvest their crops and will be ready to get combines rolling as soon as the fields dry out.” 

Crop report

There were 1.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 27, 2026. This is 5.1 days less than last year, when there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 39 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 27 percent surplus. Ninety-seven percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is unchanged from last year. Seventy-two percent of corn has reached maturity, which is 6 percentage points behind last year. Five percent of corn has been harvested, which is 9 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. Sixty-two percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 18 percentage points behind last year. Three percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 12 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.

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

Weather summary

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

While rainfall was above normal across Iowa during the reporting period, it was not as unseasonably wet as the previous two weeks. Pockets of central and western Iowa experienced totals of 1.00-2.00 inches above average with the rest of the state near normal to slightly wetter. Temperatures were also unseasonably cold across most of Iowa with departures approaching three degrees; the statewide average temperature was 59.8 degrees, 0.9 degree below normal.

Overcast skies persisted through the rest of Sunday (20^th) with stronger northeasterly winds and daytime highs in the 60s. Showers developed over northwest Iowa into the overnight hours of Monday (21^st) and expanded into north-central to eastern Iowa through the daylight hours. A handful of stations reported more than an inch with 1.47 inches in Sibley (Osceola County) and 1.68 inches in Burt (Kossuth County). Additional development occurred in west-central Iowa. Winds became more easterly as light rain was observed with temperatures in the mid 50s northwest to low 60s southeast. Widespread rain totals reported on Tuesday (22^nd) morning were between 0.50 and 1.00 inch in the northeast quadrant with 0.25 to 0.50 inch farther south and west. Low temperatures and daytime highs were not that far apart, with mid 50s early in the day to low 60s as clouds began to thin into the evening. Wednesday (23^rd) dawned with southeasterly winds and mostly cloudy skies along the Iowa-Illinois border.  The daylight hours were pleasant with highs in the low to mid 60s with a return of sunshine. Air temperatures gradually rose into the upper 60s just before midnight with low 70s reported southwest. Clouds increased over western Iowa by sunrise on Thursday (24^th) as a broad shield of showers entered the state. The complex pushed east throughout the day, leading to widespread rain totals across the state. Showers continued over southern Iowa overnight and through much of Friday (25^th) morning. Additional showers and some thunderstorms pushed into southwest Iowa, ahead of a slow-moving low pressure center over Kansas. High temperatures under overcast skies held in the 60s with southeasterly winds pushing in additional low-level moisture. Event rain totals for the previous 36 hours had most stations in western Iowa reporting at least 0.50 inch with 2.00-3.00 inches in the southwest corner. Over 70 stations registered at least an inch with 2.00 inches in Randolph (Fremont County), 2.46 inches in Pacific Junction (Mills County) and 2.73 inches in Missouri Valley (Harrison County); the statewide average total was 0.60 inch. Showers extending north to south and moving eastward brought continued rainfall to much of northern and eastern Iowa through Saturday (26^th) afternoon. Broadscale totals were above 0.25 inch where rain fell with heavier totals in south-central and northeast Iowa. Daytime temperatures rose into the 60s with the help of persisting southeasterly winds. Several stations in Black Hawk County reported over an inch at 7:00 am on Sunday (27^th), with 1.04 inches in Cedar Falls and 1.25 inches in Waterloo. Higher totals farther south included 1.11 inches in Allerton (Wayne County) to 1.44 inches in Lovilia (Monroe County).

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.19 inch at Dubuque Regional Airport (Dubuque County) to 3.61 inches at Eagle Grove (Wright County). The statewide weekly average rainfall was 1.26 inches, while the normal is 0.80 inch. Ames (Story County) and Lowden (Cedar County) reported the week’s high temperature of 75 degrees on the 23^rd, on average one degree above normal. Mason City Municipal Airport (Cerro Gordo County) reported the week’s low temperature of 42 degrees from the 23^rd, four degrees below normal.

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.

“An extremely soggy week across much of Iowa made it difficult for farmers to get much fieldwork done, with heavy rainfall leading to flooding in some areas,” Secretary Naig said. “We’re hopeful for a few dry days ahead, but more rain is in the forecast. Conditions are good for flying on cover crops, and the moisture can help get them germinated and growing. When fields finally firm up, Iowa farmers will get combines rolling and harvest will be fully underway.” 

Crop report

There were 1.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 20, 2026. This 3.2 days less than last year, when there were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Nine-five percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is 1 percentage point ahead of last year. Fifty-six percent of corn has reached maturity, which is 7 percentage points behind last year. Four percent of corn has been harvested, which is 3 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 76 percent good to excellent. Forty-six percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 12 percentage points behind last year. Two percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.

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

Weather summary

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

As if the recent anomalous wetness was not enough, Iowans experienced a week in which the preliminary statewide average rainfall was higher than the 30-year climatological normal for all of September. The wettest conditions were found across a broad swath from southwest to eastern Iowa, where totals were 4.00 to 8.00 inches above normal. Temperatures moderated somewhat with near-normal to slightly cooler conditions north to positive departures approaching ten degrees south; the statewide average temperature was 66.1 degrees, 2.7 degrees above normal.

A persistent high pressure dome above the southern United States continued to act as a focusing mechanism for several rounds of showers and thunderstorms that brought moderate to heavy sustained rainfall to many stations. Ample moisture transport from the Gulf along with mid-level Pacific monsoonal moisture streaming in from the southwest provided exceedingly high precipitable water content in the atmosphere over Iowa; this is basically a depth measurement of liquid water over a given location if all water vapor was precipitated out. While rainfall was reported somewhere in the state on every day of the week, two events at the beginning and end of the reporting period stand out for the amount and intensity of rainfall. The first event spanned Sunday (13^th) through Tuesday (15^th) from western Iowa into the central and eastern parts of the state. Surface boundaries situated just north of the existing ridge focused showers and thunderstorms with many stations across the state’s southern half collecting at least 2.00 inches. A narrower swath from Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County) to Des Moines (Polk County) registered amounts in the 3.00 to 5.00-inch range with pockets of 5.00 to 8.00 inches in west-central Iowa; more than 50 stations had at least 3.00 inches with a majority of the state receiving at least 1.00 inch. Two Atlantic (Cass County) stations reported 5.08 and 6.06 inches with 6.31 inches in Oakland (Pottawattamie County). On Monday (14^th) a broad Tornado Watch was issued for the southwest corner of the state as windshear profiles and instability were supportive of tornadogenesis; however, lack of daytime heating removed the tornadic threat as a line of severe thunderstorms moved into central Iowa. Polk County became a bullseye for very heavy rainfall from training storms with numerous stations around Des Moines receiving multiple inches over just a few hours, from 2.81 inches in Urbandale to 3.45 inches in Clive and 3.83 inches in Johnston. The statewide average rainfall through this period was 1.69 inches.

The second notable event concentrated on eastern Iowa over a general span of time from just after midnight on Friday (18^th) into Sunday (20^th) morning. An upper-level disturbance in conjunction with a surface low pressure center riding the ridge brought sustained rainfall from Muscatine (Muscatine) and Davenport (Scott County) north to the state borders with southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin. The first thrust of heavy rain was through the morning hours with redevelopment across southern Iowa as the low-level jet kicked in and pushed torrential rainfall from east-central to eastern Iowa. Flash flood warnings were issued over numerous counties after sustained rainfall late Saturday (19^th) with major flooding reported along the Turkey River in Muscatine County. As rainfall dissipated, nearly 60 stations observed 4.00 inches or more; Ainsworth (Washington County) had exactly 5.00 inches from this round with 5.88 inches in Fayette (Fayette County) and 6.75 inches in North Liberty (Johnson County) with a statewide average of 1.70 inches.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.05 inch in Milford (Dickinson County) to 10.63 inches in Ainsworth. The statewide weekly average rainfall was 3.57 inches, more than four times the normal of 0.83 inch. Clarinda (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 97 degrees on the 18^th, 20 degrees above normal. Several stations reported the week’s low temperature of 46 degrees from the 14^th to 16^th, on average four degrees below normal.

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.

“A wet start to September has helped ease drought conditions across western Iowa,” Secretary Naig said. “Another wet week ahead may limit fieldwork across much of the state. Farmers will likely use the opportunity to tackle other important work around the farm, including getting equipment ready for harvest.”

Crop report

There were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 13, 2026. This is 2.0 days less than last year, when there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Eighty-nine percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is on par with last year. Thirty-eight percent of corn has reached maturity, which is 7 percentage points behind last year. Two percent of corn has been harvested, which is 1 percentage point behind last year. Corn condition rated 76 percent good to excellent. Twenty-two percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 10 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 64 percent good to excellent.

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

Weather summary

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

Exceedingly wet conditions were reported across broad swaths of Iowa with numerous stations observing 400-600% of normal rainfall through the reporting period. Warm temperatures also persisted with positive departures in the six to nine degree range over southern Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 71.2 degrees, 5.5 degrees above normal.

Sluggish thunderstorms in northwestern Iowa expanded south and east into Sunday (6^th) afternoon, covering much of the state’s central one-third. Much of the complex dissipated into the evening hours, though another line of thunderstorms formed in western Iowa in the overnight hours of Monday (7^th). This line moved slowly into central Iowa and dissipated after noon. Much of western Iowa received at least 0.50 inch with multiple stations in west-central Iowa collecting 2.00 to 4.00 inches; Greenfield (Adair County) reported 3.02 inches with 4.18 inches in Corning (Adams County) and 4.79 inches in Guthrie Center (Guthrie County). Afternoon conditions were pleasant as clouds cleared with temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s with southeasterly winds. Cloud cover increased over northwestern Iowa into the early hours of Tuesday (8^th) as a cold front entered the state. Showers and thunderstorms moved over northern Iowa throughout the day as the front sagged from the southwest to northeast. A stationary front farther south slowed the advance of the cold front, funneling anomalous atmospheric moisture from west-central to central Iowa. Training thunderstorms brought significant rainfall totals to numerous stations along with severe-warned thunderstorms, producing swaths of wind damage in Polk County. Numerous flash flood warnings were issued as the line slowly approached the Iowa-Missouri border by Wednesday (9^th) morning. Nearly 100 stations recorded at least 2.00 inches with nearly 20 stations above 4.00 inches in central Iowa; Clive (Dallas County) reported 4.10 inches with 5.21 inches in Norwalk (Warren County) and 5.87 inches in Des Moines (Polk County). The statewide average rainfall was 1.40 inches, more than 0.50 inch above the weekly 30-year climatological average. With full frontal passage through the daylight hours, temperatures held in the upper 70s and low 80s with light west-northwesterly winds and some lingering clouds over the state’s southern quarter.

Thursday (10^th) dawned clear with variable wind direction from west to east and a range of temperatures from low 50s north to mid 60s south. Afternoon highs rose nicely into the low 80s across the state with lower relative humidity and ample sunshine. Starry skies were visible into Friday (11^th) morning with morning lows in the 50s and a shift to a southerly wind direction. Daytime temperatures returned to the lower 80s as wind speeds increased northwest as a quick-moving cold front dropped through the state. Several stations observed rainfall from thundershowers that formed along the surface front after sunset with general totals under 0.20 inch; Westfield (Plymouth County) collected 0.51 inch from a more organized storm. Winds shifted to the northwest into Saturday (12^th) with pleasant daylight temperatures in the 70s under mostly sunny skies. Scattered showers developed across western Iowa after midnight with morning temperatures in the mid to upper 50s.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.23 inch in Nora Springs (Floyd County) to 7.76 inches in Guthrie Center. The statewide weekly average rainfall was 2.05 inches, more than double the normal of 0.84 inch. Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 100 degrees on the 8^th, 19 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the week’s low temperature of 44 degrees on the 24^th, seven degrees below normal.