Iowa crop conditions remain very good with 78% of the 2014 corn and 74% of soybeans remaining in good to excellent condition with maturity at or ahead of the 5-year average. That's according to the weekly crop progress and weather report, issued July 28 by the Iowa office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is based on a statewide survey of conditions as of July 27.

CROPS LOOK GOOD: Weather is favorable as this year's corn moves through pollination. As of July 27, Iowa's corn crop rates 78% good to excellent; soybeans 74%. The U.S. corn crop is 75% good to excellent while soybeans are 71%, says USDA survey.

Rain subsided in much of the state last week. Although Iowa's corn condition improved as of July 27, topsoil moisture declined to 87% adequate to surplus compared to 93% the week before. But that's much better than the dry conditions a year ago, when only 48% of Iowa's topsoil was adequate to surplus in moisture.

Moderate temps are favorable, southwest Iowa could use a rain
The moderate temperatures forecast for this week, in addition to being favorable for crop growth, will also help reduce stress on livestock. Some areas of Iowa could use a rain, noted Julius Schaaf, on July 28. He's a corn grower from Randolph in southwest Iowa and says the last time his farm had significant rain was around the 4^th of July. "We're a little dry here on July 28 and could use a rain." He estimates corn in his neighborhood would yield 175 bushels per acre this year if it didn't get any more rain. But it would yield 225 if it could catch another good rain.

The complete weekly report is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship site or USDA's site. The report summary follows here:

CROP REPORT: Harvest advanced 20 percentage points or more in Iowa for alfalfa hay and oats for grain during the week ending July 27, 2014, according to USDA's National Ag Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork. The majority of Iowa received little rainfall and left some farmers wishing for more rain. Activities for the week ended July 27 included aerial fungicide and herbicide application and cutting all types of hay.

Iowa's corn acreage now at 85% or beyond silking stage
Declining from the previous week, topsoil moisture levels as of July 27 rated 1% very short, 12% short, 81% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 9% short, 84% adequate and 6% surplus.

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Iowa's corn acreage is at 85% or beyond the silking stage, just over 2 weeks ahead of last year at this time and almost 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Corn in the dough stage has reached 14%, 7 points ahead of normal. And 78% of Iowa's corn crop is reported in good to excellent condition. Soybean progress has advanced to 82% blooming or beyond, 10 days ahead of last year at this time, and just ahead of average.

Iowa's soybean crop is at 41% setting pods, well ahead of last year
Looking at Iowa's soybean crop, 41% is setting pods, well ahead of last year's 12% as of July 27. The survey has 74% of Iowa's 2014 soybean crop in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week. With 94% of oat acreage having turned color, oat harvest for grain is 44% complete, 1 point ahead of last year but 15 points behind normal. And 74% of Iowa's oat acreage is reported in good to excellent condition.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay is 74% complete, 2 points ahead of the previous year at this time but 5 points behind the 5-year average. Some farmers started cutting their third crop of alfalfa hay last week. In Iowa, 68% of all hay is rated in good to excellent condition. Pasture condition decreased to 71% good to excellent. Stress on livestock was reported as minimal.

IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY—for week ending July 27 2014
By Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

The past week brought a variety of weather to Iowa. Very warm and humid conditions prevailed on Monday (July 21) and Tuesday (July 22) and again over southwestern Iowa on Friday (July 25) and Saturday (July 26). On Monday (July 21) actual temperatures reached as high as 98 degrees at Sidney while very high humidity pushed the heat index as high as 117 degrees at Audubon.

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A cooler air mass allowed temperatures to fall to 51 degrees at Mason City and Elkader on Thursday (July 24) morning. Much warmer air quickly returned to southwest Iowa on Friday (July 25) with Sidney reporting the first triple digit heat of the year in Iowa with a 102 degree maximum while the heat index soared to 117 at Shenandoah.

July 2014 will likely be among the 10 coolest July's ever in Iowa
Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged from two to four degrees below normal over far southeast Iowa to about two degrees above normal in the southwest. The statewide average temperature was 0.4 degrees below normal. July as a whole will likely go into the record books among the ten coolest July's of record in Iowa. Parts of eastern and northern Iowa have yet to reach 90 degrees this year.

Meanwhile, rain fell across much of the southeast one-third of Iowa on Tuesday with Fairfield Airport reporting the most rain with 1.12 inches. Rain fell over all but southwest Iowa on Thursday into Friday with a maximum total of 3.47 inches being reported near Rowan in Wright County. No rain fell during the week over much of southwest and south central Iowa while Fairfield Airport reported the most rain with 4.28 inches. The statewide average rainfall was 0.59 inches while normal for the week is 0.98 inches.