Wet, cool weather that has been present the last few weeks has set crops back slightly in growing degree days, but experts say to not be concerned quite yet.

“We experienced a little of a rollercoaster through June and, so far, in July with it cooling off and warming up then cooling off again,” said Rich Pope, Iowa State University Extension integrated pest management specialist. “It (temperatures) has dropped off consecutively the last few weeks, but that doesn’t mean crops are at risk, it is just a set back for tasseling dates. Beans are still looking OK.”

When it comes to the reproductive season starting now, with corn especially, Pope said warm days with not excessive heat and moisture is just what that crop will need.

“We are set up pretty well and crops in general are looking good.

For crop district one, which is northwestern Iowa, Pope noted that from May 1 through July 13 the area received 1,135 GDDs, which is 110 GDDs short of normal.

The normal Pope said is based on a 30-year rolling average.

Crop district two, or northcentral Iowa, is at 1,092 GDDs, a 146 shortfall of the average.

Crop reporting district 4, Pope said, has received 1,233 GDDs, which is 105 GDDs behind normal.

Crop reporting district 5, which covers the Des Moines area, is at 1,194 GDDs, which is 89 behind the 30-year rolling average.

Contact Kriss Nelson at jknelson@frontiernet.net.