Iowa received more than 2 inches of rain this past week after two months of near-zero precipitation. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
After a near-record dry September and October, Iowa received much-needed rain as many farmers finished their corn and soybean crops for the season.
Corn harvest is 92% complete in the state, which is two weeks ahead of the average schedule, depending on the progress and condition of the Iowa crop report for October 28 to November 3. The soybean harvest is 98% complete in the state, according to the national report.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the humid and rainy conditions could slow the progress of farmers who have yet to harvest crops.
“However, it will also provide the added benefits of reducing dust, reducing fire risk and helping replenish our dry soils, waterways and pastures,” Naig said in a statement on Monday. “For the many farmers who have sown cover crops or are planning to do so, the rain also provided a much-needed boost to grow these crops.”
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Last week’s rain, which State Climatologist Justin Glisan said was “nearly a month’s worth of rain” at some reporting stations, has also helped replenish topsoil and subsoil moisture.
In recent weeks, these conditions have been trending downward, with soil moisture levels becoming shorter and shorter. However, this week the moisture level of the topsoil has increased from 15% sufficient to 39% sufficient. Soil moisture levels also increased from just 20% adequate to 31% adequate due to the statewide average precipitation of 2.29 inches.
According to the climatologist’s report, rainfall was more than four times the normal amount for this reporting period. Temperatures in Iowa were also above normal years, with an average of 53.1 degrees, almost 8 degrees above normal.
The rainfall also lifted the statewide burn ban, and now only nine Iowa counties are under burn bans, according to the State Fire Marshal. place.
The state also released agricultural prices for the month of September on October 31. This report showed that corn averaged $4.09 per bushel in September, which was 7 cents above the per bushel price in August, but $1.13 below the previous September price.
Soybeans were also $3.10 per bushel below the September 2023 price and averaged $10 per bushel in September 2024.
Iowa milk prices were $5.80 per hundredweight count (cwt) above prices as of September 2023, averaging $25.70 per cwt.
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