Special to the Times Vedette

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.

“Soil temperatures are slowly warming up, the crop insurance coverage window will soon be opening, and a more active weather pattern is helping to replenish some soil moisture,” said Secretary Naig. “This time of year, nothing can eclipse farmers’ focus on getting ready for planting once conditions are favorable.”

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

Crop report

Another week of colder than normal temperatures with rain and snow left Iowa farmers with 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 7, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Minimal fieldwork was done during the week, but some producers were able to apply anhydrous, manure, and dry fertilizer. High winds prevented producers from spraying fertilizer towards the end of the week.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 14 percent very short, 35 percent short, 47 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 26 percent very short, 38 percent short, 34 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Oats seeding reached 32 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Oats emerged reached 4 percent complete.

There were no reports of cattle turned out onto pasture yet as pastures continue to green up. Calving was in full swing with reports of mud in some areas. 

Weather summary

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

April began unseasonably cool with several windy days across Iowa. Temperatures were near normal in western Iowa and four degrees below average east; Iowa’s average temperature was 42.1 degrees, 1.8 degrees below normal. Eastern Iowa experienced above-average precipitation in the range of 125 to 400% of normal, while the southwest corner was unseasonably dry.

Thunderstorms began firing into the afternoon hours of Sunday (31st) over southeast Iowa with some becoming severe-warned; there were a handful of 1.00-inch hail reports in Lee and Van Buren Counties. Heavier rain was also reported in these storms with several stations collecting more than an inch of moisture; Fairfield (Jefferson County) measured 1.02 inches while Moulton (Davis County) observed 1.62 inches. Lighter showers formed over northern Iowa into Monday (1st) morning with additional storms forming to the southeast. There was a wide range of afternoon highs with upper 30s north to the mid to upper 50s south along with fog and mist. Winds shifted to a northerly direction after midnight with widespread showers across Iowa as a low-pressure center propagated northeast through Missouri. Rain totals reported at 7:00am on Tuesday (2nd) indicated that most stations accumulated at least 0.20 inch with nearly 100 southeastern stations collecting 0.50 inch or more; several Bloomfield (Davis County) gauges had totals ranging from 0.98 inch to 2.70 inches with a statewide average of 0.43 inch. Precipitation gradually tapered off as clouds thinned in western Iowa, where low to mid 50s were present. Temperatures remained in the low 30s farther east as snow showers wrapped in behind the low-pressure center. Snow accumulated at 130 stations with totals ranging from 0.1 inch in Clive (Polk County) to 5.7 inches in Dubuque (Dubuque County). Spotty rain and snow showers continued into Wednesday (3rd) as strong northerly winds built in across the state with sustained winds in the 20-40 mph range; airports in Algona (Kossuth County) and Cedar Rapids (Linn County) reported 52-mph wind gusts. Clouds cleared west to east with daytime temperatures in the 50s where the sun was visible. Precipitation gradually pushed out of eastern Iowa into the evening hours with Bellevue Lock and Dam (Jackson County) collecting 3.0 inches of snow along with an additional 0.50 inch of rain in Bloomfield.

Overnight lows into Thursday (4th) dropped into the upper 20s and low 30s in western Iowa where stars were present. Persistent cloud cover in eastern Iowa held temperatures in the mid 30s. Overcast conditions remained through the day across Iowa’s eastern half with mid to upper 40s and gusty northerly winds; conditions were clear and up to 10 degrees warmer farther west. Winds decreased as the sun set, becoming light and variable into Friday (5th) with lows in the upper 20s in central and northern Iowa. Easterly winds increased through the day with sunny skies and afternoon temperatures in the 50s to low 60s east to west. Gusty southeasterly winds returned on Saturday (6th) as a strong low-pressure center approached from the west. Daytime temperatures were the warmest of the week with some stations in the upper 60s while widespread upper 50s and low 60s were reported. A thin line of thundershowers formed in the evening hours in west-central Iowa followed by a broader swath of showers overnight into Sunday (7th). Rain totals were generally under 0.20 inch though amounts approaching 0.50 inch were found in north-central Iowa.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.03 inch in Audubon (Audubon County) to 4.40 inches in DeWitt (Clinton County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.02 inches, almost double the normal of 0.66 inch. Sioux City Airport reported the week’s high temperature of 69 degrees on the 6th, 11 degrees above average. Elkader (Clayton County) reported the week’s low temperature of nine degrees on the 6th, 10 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures ranged from the low 40s north to upper 40s south as of Sunday.

Special to the Times Vedette

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented Monday 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.

“Whether it’s the birth of a new calf or the emergence of the first seedlings popping through the soil, spring always brings a feeling of renewal, anticipation and optimism,” said Secretary Naig. “As Iowa farmers look ahead to this growing season and make planting preparations, we are encouraged by the more active weather patterns. While our historic streak of 195 weeks of D1 drought continues and we still have significant moisture deficits to make up, longer term outlooks appear to be favorable for more consistent rainfall.”

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

Crop report

Much of the State experienced cooler than normal temperatures and much needed rain/snow showers which left Iowa farmers with 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending March 31, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although minimal fieldwork occurred over the last week, some producers were able to apply anhydrous, manure, and dry fertilizer.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 22 percent very short, 37 percent short, 37 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 35 percent very short, 41 percent short, 22 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Oats seeding has already reached 21 percent complete, 11 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Much of the seeding took place prior to the week ending March 31. Some seeding took place several weeks ago and is starting to emerge.

No reports of cattle turned out onto pasture yet as many pastures are just beginning to green up with little new growth. Calving was in full swing.

Weather summary

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

An active storm track brought unseasonably wet conditions to Iowa’s northwestern two-thirds, leading to widespread improvement in drought conditions. Temperatures during the first reporting period of 2024 varied from cooler conditions in the northwest to marginal warmth in the southeast; the statewide average temperature was 40.2 degrees, 2.3 degrees below normal.

Several waves of showers and a few thunderstorms continued across Iowa through Sunday (24th) afternoon and evening with east-southeasterly winds. Daytime highs ranged from the mid-30s north to low 50s south, where periodic peaks of sun were observed. A southerly shift in the wind occurred overnight as the large-scale, low-pressure center pushed into western Iowa. Muddy rain was reported on Monday (25th) morning as a large dust plume from New Mexico was lofted into the atmosphere and transported northeast via the mid-level steering flow. A dry slot with minimal cloud cover formed in the early afternoon allowing highs to rise into the low 60s across central and southern Iowa. Showers and thunderstorms reformed in southeastern Iowa and then across a broader area in western Iowa through the remainder of the day. The low-pressure center finally exited Iowa early on Tuesday (26th) with some snowflakes flying as colder air wrapped in behind the system. Event rain totals were well above average for most locations with over 140 stations collecting at least an inch in Iowa’s northwestern half; more than one-third of the stations in west-central to northwest Iowa measured 2.00 to 3.00 inches with 3.05 inches in Jefferson (Greene County). Strong northwesterly winds developed in the afternoon with mid 20s northwest to mid-30s southeast under overcast skies. Clouds gradually cleared west to east before sunrise on Wednesday (27th) with morning lows in the teens under clear skies and in the mid-20s farther east where stratus clouds were present. Unseasonable cool afternoon temperatures held in the 30s with westerly winds. 

Partly cloudy skies persisted into Thursday (28th) morning as light winds became variable with temperatures across western Iowa in the 20s to low 30s southeast. Winds shifted to the east through the daylight hours with temperatures reaching into the upper 60s in the southwest counties while conditions were up to 25 degrees cooler to the northeast. Spotty and light showers developed in eastern Iowa with several stations picking up a trace of rainfall; Muscatine (Muscatine County) measured 0.12 inch. Morning temperatures on Friday (29th) were in the 30s as persistent easterly winds gained strength. A warm front lifted north into the state as winds shifted to the south in advance of a low-pressure system approaching Iowa. Highs reached into the mid-70s south of the front while conditions held in the upper 50s in northern Iowa. Isolated strong to severe storms fired in eastern Iowa after sunset. Stations that received rain generally reported under 0.20 inch though locations under heavier storms observed totals ranging from 0.56 inch in Dubuque (Dubuque County) to 0.79 inch in Hopkinton (Delaware County). Saturday (30th) was somewhat of a chilly day with clear skies, gusty northerly winds and temperatures in the low 40s northwest to low 60s southeast. Overcast conditions developed into Sunday (31st) morning with low temperatures dropping into the upper 30s across northern Iowa.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.03 inch in Moulton (Davis County) to 3.11 inches in Eagle Grove (Wright County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.20 inches, almost double the normal of 0.64 inch. Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 76 degrees on the 29th, 18 degrees above average. Primghar (O’Brien County) and Sibley (Osceola County) reported the week’s low temperature of nine degrees on the 27th, on average 19 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures ranged from the low 40s north to upper 40s south as of Sunday.