Soil Moisture
Topsoil moisture levels in Iowa improved a little bit over the past week for ratings of 6% very short, 27% short, 62% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 15% very short, 37% short, 46% adequate, and 2% surplus. Districts in northwestern Iowa are reporting subsoil moisture levels to be 72% short to very short.
Scattered precipitation was reported in Minnesota, but crop conditions remained unchanged or decreased throughout the state. Minnesota top soils are rated at 31% very short, 47% short, 22% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 28% very short, 51% short, 21% adequate, and 0% surplus.
Crop Conditions
Corn silking or beyond went from 21% last week to 60% in Iowa. Corn is three days ahead of the average with 6% of the crop reaching dough stage. The corn crop in Iowa improved to a rating of 68% good to excellent. The soybean crop is ahead of the five-year average with 75% of soybeans blooming and 30% setting pods. Soybean conditions for Iowa are rated at 66% good to excellent.
Corn conditions in Minnesota continue to hold steady at 42% good to excellent. Reports of corn silking was reported reported at 62%. Soybean blooming in Minnesota reached 79%, same as last year and one fully week ahead of the 5-year average. Twenty-six percent of the crops is setting pods, five days ahead of normal. Soybean conditions declined from 45% to 43% for good to excellent condition rating.
*Information and graphs obtained from July 19, 2021, USDA, NASS report
