Soybeans appear to be getting a good start in this field southeast of Forty Dodge.

Persistent precipitation almost completely stopped progress in south central Iowa while allowing only limited progress in the remainder of the state.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistical Service, localized heavy rains have caused erosion and ponding with farmers along the Missouri River keeping an eye on rising water levels.

High winds during the week prevented spraying in weedy fields.

Fifty-two percent of the state’s soybean crop has emerged, behind last year’s 57 percent, but slightly ahead of the five-year average of 50 percent.

Soybean planting is 87 percent complete, trailing last year’s 89 percent and the normal pace of 88 percent. South central Iowa lags 33 percentage points behind the state averaging with only 54 percent of soybeans planted.

Oats have begun heading with 3 percent of the crop headed compared with 9 percent in 2010. Oat condition remained steady with 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 66 percent good and 13 percent excellent.

Ninety-nine percent of Iowa’s corn acreage has been planted, equal to last year. South central Iowa still has more than 5 percent of its corn crop remaining to be planted.

Ninety percent of the state’s corn crop has emerged, behind last year’s 93 percent, but ahead of the average 85 percent.

The first corn condition ratings of the crop year stand at 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 65 percent good and 15 percent excellent.

With weather conditions that have not been conducive to cutting hay, first cutting alfalfa hay harvest, at 6 percent complete, is well behind last year’s 41 percent and the normal 23 percent.

The condition of the hay crop is reported at 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Pasture and range condition was 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 49 percent good and 19 percent excellent.

Variable temperatures and additional rain have caused some stress for young livestock housed outdoors as feedlots are quite muddy.

WEATHER SUMMARY

By Harry Hillaker

State climatologist

The past week began with warmer than usual weather from May 22 through May 24 with afternoon highs reaching 86 degrees at Belle Plaine and Keosauqua on May 22.

Thunderstorms brought rain and some severe weather to the east one-half of Iowa on May 22, while May 23 was mostly dry. The weather transitioned to a much cooler pattern late May 24 with statewide showers and thunderstorms on both May 23 and May 24 with some severe storms over central and east central Iowa.

Rainfall was locally heavy at mid-week in parts of central, south central and southeast Iowa with lighter rain persisting over eastern Iowa into the morning of May 26.

Temperatures were well below normal from May 25 through Saturday night with a rapid warm-up commencing on Sunday.

Low temperatures in the 40s were common on May 26 and May 27 with Elkader reporting a morning low down to 35 degrees on May 27.

Light rain showers were scattered over much of Iowa on May 27 and Saturday with widespread thunderstorms, bringing some high winds and hail to southeast Iowa, on Sunday morning.

Rainfall totals for the week varied from 0.57 inches at Sibley to 4.11 inches at Osceola.

The statewide average precipitation for the week was 1.9 inches or nearly double the normal of 1.01 inches.

Temperatures averaged 1.8 degrees below normal for the week as a whole.

Finally, soil temperatures as of Sunday were averaging near 60 degrees statewide.