Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“Widespread rain during the week and storms over the weekend brought welcome moisture to many parts of Iowa. Unfortunately, western and northwestern portions of the state did not receive enough rain to improve drought conditions. Severe thunderstorms also left behind tornado, wind, and hail damage for some communities and farms in eastern Iowa,” said Secretary Naig. “As excitement builds for the opening day of the Iowa State Fair, cooler temperatures and additional chances for showers will stick around for the first few days, while the forecast for the next week shows better chances of significant rainfall totals.”
Crop Report
There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 9, 2026. This is .4 days more than last year, when there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 27 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Corn silking reached 97 percent, which is 2 percentage points ahead of last year. Sixty-nine percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dough stage, which is 3 percentage points ahead of last year. Twelve percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 93 percent, which is 1 percentage point ahead of last year. Seventy-two percent of soybeans were setting pods, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 77 good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of oats have been harvested, which is 13 percentage points ahead of last year. Oats condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 66 percent good to excellent.
Source : iowaagriculture.gov