Northwest Iowa Crop Conditions

The weather in NW Iowa has been active so far in June, with thunderstorms moving through every couple of days. Despite a few local areas of storm damage, conditions have been mostly favorable overall. Rainfall has been highly variable, with some neighborhoods receiving excessive amounts—up to 6 inches over the past 10 days—while others have received closer to 1 inch. On average, the region gets about 4 inches of rain in June, so many areas are on track to exceed that.

Temperatures have been running close to normal. Looking ahead, the two-week outlook from the National Weather Service calls for average temperatures and above-average chances for rainfall. If the forecast verifies, some areas could see excessive rain in the coming days. While drought was a concern earlier this season, excess soil moisture is now the more pressing issue. Still, a return to drier conditions later this summer is possible, so timely rains will be needed again in July and August, ideally accompanied by average or below-average temperatures.

Most corn is in good to excellent condition and currently in the rapid growth phase. Plant height ranges from 1 to 4 feet depending on planting date. It’s remarkable how quickly corn can grow from 3 feet in mid-June to 7 or 8 feet by early July. Recent thunderstorms have caused isolated cases of green snap, wind damage, and light hail injury.

Soybeans are also in good shape overall, ranging from 4 to 12 inches tall. The 30-inch rows still have a ways to go before canopy closure, but narrower rows are getting close. Flowering should begin in the next few weeks. However, frequent rainfall and wind have made it challenging to get the post-emergence herbicide done.