As we near the end of July, farmers are starting to get a better feel on their crops for the year.

ISU Extension Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson says in spite of a slow start to the planting season, things are looking up for agriculture in central Iowa. “By now our crops actually are starting to look really good, in some cases they’ve looked good for a while. But some of our later-planted soybeans have been kind of limping along, and they’re starting to look a lot better now. Our corn actually looks really nice, (though) there’s a little bit of unevenness still just from some of the conditions that things got planted into in kind of a cooler, wetter weather this spring and early in the summer. But things are really starting to look good, and so it’s just a matter of getting out into the field and seeing how at least the corn looks from the ear perspective now.”

According to the latest crop progress and condition report provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Iowa farmers had five suitable work days during the week ending July 21st. There were reports of crops lying flat and green snap in corn due to high winds during recent storms. Actual fieldwork activities during the week included spraying and harvesting hay and oats. For corn, 41% of the crop has begun to silk, which is 12 days behind last year and one week behind the five-year average. Overall, the corn condition rated 63% good to excellent during the week.

As for soybeans, 47% of the crop has started to bloom, 13 days behind 2018 and nine days behind average, and the condition rated 64% good to excellent. Finally, 78% of oats have started coloring, four days behind last year and five days behind average. About 12% of the oat crop has been harvested for grain, nine days behind last year and the average, and the oat condition declined to 61% good to excellent from the previous week. The USDA also reported that high temperatures during the last week caused some stress to livestock.