Weekly Iowa Crops and Weather Report
Weekly Iowa Crop and Weather Report
Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report
April 17 – 23, 2023
On Monday, April 24, 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.
“Wetter conditions and cooler temperatures over the past week slowed down planters across much of Iowa,” said Secretary Naig. “As farmers look for a window to resume planting, other fieldwork activities including fertilizer application and cover crop termination continues.”
Crop Report
Colder temperatures and a variety of precipitation limited farmers to 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 23, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Much needed rain in the western part of Iowa helped to improve State level moisture supplies. Corn, soybean, and oat planting continued this week, although at a reduced pace due to the cold, wet weather.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 28 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
Ten percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 9 days ahead of last year but equal to the 5-year average. Five percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 10 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of the average. Sixty-seven percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 11 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Ten percent of the oat crop has emerged, 3 days ahead of last year. Calving continues with some cattle let out to pasture. Livestock were doing well although some lots are muddy.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
After an unseasonably warm week, temperatures headed in the opposite direction as several storm systems brought an active weather pattern and cooler conditions. Northern Iowa registered negative departures of up to ten degrees with a statewide average temperature of 44.6 degrees, 7.7 degrees below normal. All forms of precipitation were reported across Iowa with severe storms bringing hail and a few weak tornadoes along with wintery precipitation at the beginning and end of the reporting period. Iowa’s northwestern two-thirds were unseasonably wet with many stations observing over a half inch of above-average precipitation.
Chilly conditions with light snow, sleet and rain persisted through Sunday (16th) afternoon as gusty northwest winds held daytime high temperatures in the mid to upper 30s. Overnight lows did not drop appreciably as skies cleared west to east with stubborn clouds remaining over eastern Iowa. Monday (17th) temperatures rebounded into the mid to upper 50s with southwestern stations reporting low to mid 60s. Variable winds developed into Tuesday (18th), shifting to the east as the sun rose with morning lows in the upper 20s north to upper 30s south. Afternoon highs were pleasant, reaching into the mid-60s in southern Iowa, while readings were up to 10 degrees cooler in the northeast. Clouds increased through the evening as a disturbance approached Iowa producing thunderstorms in north-central and western Iowa into the early morning hours of Wednesday (19th); a few cells were severe-warned in eastern Iowa later in the morning as stratus clouds covered most of the sky statewide. A warm front lifting north in advance of a strong low-pressure system pushed temperatures into the upper 70s in southern Iowa, while north of the boundary, highs only reached into the upper 50s. Ample moisture and atmospheric instability allowed discrete supercells to fire in western Iowa along a cold front just after 5:00 pm with four reports of weak tornadoes and golf ball to tennis ball-sized hail. The storms coalesced into a line, maintaining strength into eastern Iowa into early Thursday (20th) morning.
A second complex of thunderstorms formed in southwestern Iowa and expanded across central and eastern Iowa through the day as cold air wrapped in on the backside of the low. Highs dropped into the upper 40s to mid-50s as the complex moved out of Iowa. Event totals reported at 7:00 am on Friday (21st) showed a wide swath of above average totals from southwest to northeast with smaller pockets in northwest and east-central Iowa. More than 125 stations reported at least an inch with nearly 15 stations hitting two inches or more; Corning (Adams County) measured 2.95 inches while the statewide average was 0.81 inch. Another disturbance forced light rain and snow showers through the afternoon as temperatures varied from the upper 30s northwest to mid-50s southeast. Saturday (22nd) was another unseasonably cold day as northwest winds held daytime conditions in the upper 30s and low 40s under overcast skies. Clearing clouds overnight and into Sunday (23rd) cooled lows into the 20s in western Iowa.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.14 inch at Muscatine (Muscatine County) to 3.04 inches in Winterset (Madison County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.15 inches; the normal is 0.91 inch. Keokuk Lock and Dam (Lee County) reported the week’s high temperature of 81 degrees on the 19th, 17 degrees above normal. Sibley (Osceola County) reported the week’s low temperature of 20 degrees on the 23rd, 15 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low 40s north to mid to upper 40s south as of Sunday.
April 10 – 16, 2023
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
“Sandwiched between severe storms and chilly snow flurries were some unseasonably warm and dry conditions that allowed farmers to get planters rolling across the state,” said Secretary Naig. “With cooler than average temperatures expected through the end of April, farmers should monitor soil temperatures and be aware of the potential for localized patches of frost.”
Crop Report
Strong winds and warmer than normal temperatures led to drier soil conditions which allowed 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 16, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were a few isolated areas in the southern part of Iowa that saw more precipitation than average for this time of year. Fertilizer applications continued and oat seeding accelerated. Farmers began planting corn and soybeans although many operators were waiting for precipitation to improve soil moisture supplies.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 23 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 9 percent very short, 28 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.
Seven percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, almost 2 weeks ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average. Over one-third of the State’s expected oat crop was planted during the week ending April 16 to reach 51 percent, 10 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Four percent of the oat crop has emerged.
Pastures continue to break dormancy and become green, but little new growth thus far. Calving continues. Overall, livestock conditions continue to be good.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Iowa experienced summerlike conditions over several days of the reporting period as positive temperature departures from 8 to 16 degrees were observed; the statewide average temperature was 58.6 degrees, 11.1 degrees above normal. Coupled with these anomalously warm temperatures, was a very dry airmass until a late-week pattern shift brought widespread rainfall and some snow statewide. Southwestern Iowa measured above-normal totals with deficits of over 0.50 inch at many eastern stations.
Gusty southerly winds continued through Sunday (April 9) afternoon under clear skies with daytime temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s. A disturbance pushed across western Iowa during the evening hours and persisted through Monday (April 10) morning. Several southwestern and south-central stations measured at least 0.20 inch with Hastings (Mills County) reporting 0.47 inch. Temperatures rose into the low to mid-70s as clouds cleared off through the day under a light and variable wind. Starry skies remained overnight as morning lows reported on Tuesday (April 11) held in the 40s with patchy fog in southwestern Iowa. A strong southerly wind built in over the daylight hours under sunny skies with high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s as a dry airmass overtook the Upper Midwest. Morning lows on Wednesday (April 12) were unseasonably warm with a statewide average low of 51 degrees, 16 degrees above normal. Afternoon conditions were exceedingly dry with dewpoint temperatures in the upper 40s in the presence of strong southwesterly winds and air temperatures in the low 80s south to low 90s north; the statewide average high was 83 degrees, 24 degrees above normal. Winds died down overnight as temperatures dropped into the 50s. Southerly winds began to increase through Thursday (April 13) with daytime temperatures generally 10 to 12 degrees cooler than the prior day.
Isolated showers popped up in northwestern Iowa a few hours after sunrise on Friday (April 14). Another line of showers and a few thunderstorms developed in western Iowa after noon with temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s across much of Iowa. Behind the cold front, conditions cooled into the upper 60s where clouds and rain were present. In advance of a low-pressure system, strong to severe storms formed after sunset over southwestern Iowa, expanding in coverage while losing strength as the cluster pushed into central Iowa. There were several reports of severe straight-line wind events causing structural damage with a 68 mph wind gust clocked near Essex (Page County). The low slowly moved through Iowa on Saturday (April 15) as showers and thunderstorms brought widespread rainfall. Iowa’s eastern quarter remained mostly clear with highs reaching into the mid-70s while upper 30s to mid-40s were observed in western Iowa. Light snow filtered on the backside of the low pressure as rainfall moved into eastern Iowa overnight into Sunday (April 16). All Iowa stations reported measurable precipitation with over 50 measuring at least 0.50 inch; the highest totals were observed in southwest Iowa where eight stations recorded from 1.00 inch to 1.74 inches. Snow totals were isolated with 0.1 inch in Davenport (Scott County) to 3.5 inches in Swea City (Kossuth County).
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.01 inch at multiple stations to 2.21 inches in Hastings. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.44 inch while the normal is 0.81 inch. Airports in Sioux City (Woodbury County) and Spencer (Clay County) reported the week’s high temperature of 92 degrees on April 14, on average 33 degrees above normal. Beaconsfield (Ringgold County) reported the week’s low temperature of 27 degrees on April 10, eight degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low to mid-40s east to upper 40s and low 50s west as of Sunday.
April 3 – 9, 2023
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.
“April 10 marks the earliest date to plant corn and remain eligible for federal crop insurance. That means we should begin seeing planters in fields this week,” said Secretary Naig. “Farmers can take advantage of the quieter weather pattern, unseasonably warm conditions and increasing soil temperatures to jumpstart their spring field work.”
Crop Report
Dry conditions and warming temperatures helped Iowa farmers by increasing the days suitable for fieldwork to 3.5 during the week ending April 9, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. A storm cell brought strong winds and hail to parts of Iowa. Field activities included fertilizer applications and oat seeding.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 27 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
Thirteen percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 1 day ahead of last year but 1 day behind the 5-year average. There were limited reports of oats beginning to emerge.
Pastures were starting to turn green although growth was still minimal. Calving continued. Overall, livestock conditions improved with warmer weather.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
April’s first full week was once again active as another widespread severe weather outbreak occurred across Iowa and several other states. Pockets of large hail and heavy downpours brought moisture across Iowa’s southeastern half, though much of the state experienced drier-than-average conditions. Statewide temperatures varied from four degrees above normal southeast to three degrees below normal northwest; the statewide average temperature was 46.2 degrees, 2.1 degrees above normal.
A cold front swept through Iowa on Sunday (2nd) afternoon shifting winds to a north-northwesterly direction. High temperatures in front of the boundary reached into the upper 60s and low 70s, while 50s prevailed in northwest Iowa. Scattered clouds filtered in across northern Iowa overnight into Monday (3rd) with spotty pockets of light rain. Blustery northwesterly winds produced a cool day under overcast skies with temperatures in the upper 40s northwest to mid 60s southeast. Winds turned to the east in advance of a powerful low-pressure center that was moving towards sout6hwest Iowa on Tuesday (4th). A deck of stratus clouds held temperatures in the upper 30s north to mid 40s south as a warm front lifted into southern Iowa along with anomalous moisture. Severe thunderstorms formed later in the afternoon as clearing skies allowed for atmospheric destabilization in the presence of high temperatures 20 degrees above normal. While this system was a mirror image of the March 31st event, the dominant severe weather mode was very large hail; observers in Osceola (Clarke County) measured 3.50-inch hail that caused structural damage. A swath of 1.00 to 3.00-inch hail was reported across east-central Iowa as initial discrete supercells consolidated into a squall line. A brief tornado was also observed crossing over the Warren County line into Pleasantville (Marion County).
Wednesday (5th) was a windy and cold day statewide as a chilly airmass pushed into the Midwest under high pressure. Sunny skies prevailed with daytime highs in the mid 30s north to mid 40s south. Overnight skies were full of stars with variable winds dying down by sunrise on Thursday (6th) with the statewide average low of 22 degrees, 11 degrees below normal. Afternoon conditions rebounded into the 50s under cloudless conditions. Hazy skies greeted Iowans on Friday (7th) as southerly winds boosted highs into the mid 60s with very low relative humidity, creating ideal conditions for field fires in western Iowa. Saturday (8th) morning conditions held in the upper 30s and low 40s with some scattered clouds in southwestern Iowa. Pleasant temperatures continued throughout the afternoon with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s with a continuing southerly wind. Under generally clear skies, Sunday (9th) morning temperatures mirrored those of the previous day, averaging five degrees above normal.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at western Iowa stations to 1.45 inches in Clinton (Clinton County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.26 inch while the normal is 0.62 inch. Lamoni (Decatur County) and Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 88 degrees on the 4th, on average 28 degrees above normal. Atlantic (Cass County) and Audubon (Audubon County) reported the week’s low temperature of 13 degrees on the 6th, on average 19 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the mid to upper 40s east to low 50s west as of Sunday.
