AgWeb.com Editors

Following are details from the state Crop/Weather Report:

Iowa: Heavy rains left fields wet and soggy. Flooding occurred in low lying areas. Harvest of the third hay cutting has been slowed by wet days. Strong winds blew down many corn fields and damaged livestock buildings and grain bins in some areas. There was 1.0 day suitable for fieldwork, compared to 5.2 days a year ago. Topsoil moisture rated zero percent very short, 2 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 46 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 2 percent very short, 3 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and 38 percent surplus. Corn in dough stage is at 85 percent, 6 percentage points behind last year but 3 points ahead of the fiveyear average. Corn in dent stage is at 58 percent, slightly behind last year’s 59 percent but ahead of the five-year average of 45 percent. Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Soybean condition rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 23 percent excellent. It was an exceptionally wet week across Iowa. There was statewide coverage of thunderstorms from Monday (20th) through Friday (24th) morning. On Monday and Tuesday the heaviest rains were concentrated across northwest Iowa. On Wednesday the heavier rains were in west central sections of the state. However, the greatest rains by far in this very wet week and month came on Thursday night into Friday morning in far southern Iowa. Overnight rains of five inches or more covered a large area of south central and southeast Iowa on Thursday night with 12.34 inches at Lake Rathbun Dam. Saturday (25th) and Sunday (26th) finally brought much needed dry weather. However, thunderstorms dampened portions of northeast Iowa again early Monday (27th) morning. Weekly rain totals varied from 0.90 inches at Coon Rapids to 15.29 inches at Lake Rathbun. The statewide average precipitation was 3.36 inches or three times the weekly normal of 1.08 inches. This was the wettest week since the third week of May 2004. The statewide average precipitation for the month of August through 7 a.m. CDT on Monday the 27th is estimated to be 8.78 inches. This easily surpasses 1993’s total of 8.24 inches as the wettest August among 135 years of state records. Meanwhile, temperatures during the past week averaged from 1 degree above normal in the northwest to as much as 4 degrees warmer than usual in the southeast. The statewide average temperature was 2.5 degrees above normal.

Illinois: Flooding was reported across the northern part of the state this past week, while the southern part of the state is still seeking rain. A few northern counties were declared disaster areas due to flooding. Various soybean fields throughout the state are showing signs of sudden death syndrome. Some corn fields in the northern part of the state were downed due to winds in excess of 70 mph. Temperatures this past week averaged nearly 5 degrees above normal. There were 3.9 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 23 percent very short, 25 percent short, 33 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Corn dent reached 80 percent, compared to 71 percent last year and 62 percent for the five-year average. Corn was 17 percent mature, compared to 9 percent in 2006 and the average of 8 percent. Soybeans turning yellow were at 13 percent, ahead of 4 percent last year and the five-year average of 10 percent. Soybeans shedding leaves were at 5 percent, ahead of 1 percent for last year and 2 percent for the five-year average. Producers continue to prepare equipment for harvest and tend to livestock.

Indiana: Strong thunderstorms moved through portions of the state, which helped relieve dry soil conditions and stress to major crops, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Some northern and central areas received heavy rain and wind damage. Extent of the flooding and wind damage is unknown at this time. Recent precipitation will help pod fill in soybean fields. Plants in many corn fields have turned brown and ears are advancing rapidly toward maturity. Corn harvest was underway in a few early maturing fields during the week. There were 4.7 days suitable for field work. Corn condition is rated 42 percent good to excellent compared with 73 percent last year at this time. Ninety-three percent of the corn acreage is in the dough stage compared with 90 percent last year and 85 percent for the average. Sixty percent of the corn acreage is now dented compared with 54 percent last year and 45 percent for the 5-year average. Ten percent of the corn acreage is mature compared with 3 percent last year and 5 percent for the average. Ninety-seven percent of the soybean acreage is setting pods compared with 92 percent for both last year and the 5-year average, respectively . Soybean condition is rated 41 percent good to excellent compared with 73 percent last year at this time.

Minnesota: Cool weather and rain boosted statewide topsoil moisture supplies and improved crop conditions, according to USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Heavy rains in the southeast corner of the state caused flooding and created a region of muddy field conditions. Portions of northern and central Minnesota received less rain and remained short or very short of topsoil moisture. Reports of hail were received in isolated areas of central Minnesota. The average temperature for the week was 64.8 degrees, 1.6 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday were rated 16 percent very short, 22 short, 52 adequate, and 10 surplus. Minnesota's corn and soybean crops continue to mature ahead of the average pace. As of Sunday Aug 26th, 96 percent of corn acreage had reached the dough stage compared to 71 percent for the five-year average. Seventy-six percent of corn reached the dent stage, compared to 35 percent average. Four percent of corn was mature, compared to 1 percent average. Twenty-two percent of soybeans were turning yellow, compared to 13 percent average.

Nebraska: For the week ending August 26, 2007, rain during the week stopped haying activities and irrigation in many areas of eastern Nebraska, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Portions of the state received storms that caused wind and hail damage to crops. In some areas, the rains will allow crops to mature without additional irrigation. However, the lack of drying weather has lowered hay quality. Other producer activities included preparing wheat ground for seeding and planting alfalfa. In the west, producers were getting ready for dry bean harvest. Weather Summary: Temperatures averaged 1 degree above normal across the state. Triple digit highs were recorded in the southern part of the state while the northern part of the state saw lows in the 40's. Six of the eight districts averaged over an inch of rain with the Northeast District averaging over 4 inches. Corn conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 49 good, and 28 excellent, well above last year's 53 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 85 percent good or excellent while dryland fields rated 66, both above year ago levels. Corn in the dough stage was 94 percent, ahead of 93 last year and 91 average. Corn in the dent stage was 63 percent, behind last year's 66 but ahead of the 56 average. Corn mature was 2 percent, behind 4 last year and average. Soybean conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 19 fair, 55 good, and 24 excellent, well above last year's 52 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans setting pods was 97 percent, behind last year's 100 and near the 98 average. Soybeans turning color was 4 percent, behind last year's 11 and 12 average.

Missouri: Significant rainfall arrived during the week, helping soybeans, sorghum, pastures, third-cutting hay, and late-planted corn. Rainfall was locally heavy. Flash flooding occurred in parts of Greene and Polk Counties, where 12 to 15 inches of rain fell, causing damage to buildings and crops. By contrast, the southeastern quarter of the state was left mostly dry. An area encompassing the southeast district, southern counties in the east-central district, and the eastern half of the south-central district is suffering from moderate to extreme drought. Dryland crops are under severe stress, while pastures are in very poor condition with little to no grass growth. Topsoil moisture at the state level is rated 27 percent very short, 35 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, a substantial improvement from last week. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. The corn crop is 78 percent dented, 8 days behind last year and 3 days behind normal. Thirty percent is mature, 8 days behind last year and 4 days behind the 5-year average of 39 percent. Harvest has started in every district. The southeast district is 26 percent complete, while producers in northern areas are just starting to combine the earliest-planted fields, seed corn fields, and fields lodged from wind. Silage harvest is virtually complete, as most corn is too dry for forage. Overall the state is 5 percent harvested, 4 days behind last year but slightly ahead of normal. The condition rating is 7 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Eighty-nine percent of the soybean crop is setting pods, 2 days behind last year but marginally ahead of average. Ten percent is turning color, the same as normal. Four percent is dropping leaves compared with both last year and normal at 2 percent. Soybean condition is rated 8 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

Ohio: The average temperature for the State was 77.0 degrees, 6.6 degrees above normal for the week ending Sunday, August 26, 2007. Precipitation averaged 3.17 inches, 2.40 inches above normal. There were 153 modified growing degree days, 12 modified degree days above normal. Reporters rated 3.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the seven-day period ending Friday, August 24, 2007. Topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 14 percent short, 40 percent adequate, and 36 percent surplus. Heavy rains in the Northwest and North Central parts of the State last week kept farmers there out of the fields and caused widespread flooding. The hardest hit areas were low lying corn, soybean and vegetable fields. The full extent of the damage will not be known for sometime as producers survey the fields. For producers in other parts of the state, field activities included cutting corn silage, harvesting of fruits and vegetables, limited hay making, and repairing machinery. As of Sunday August 26, 4 percent of the State's soybean acreage was dropping leaves. This was up 3 percent from the previous week and 1 percentage point ahead of the five-year average. Corn acreage in dough was estimated at 86 percent, 3 percentage points behind the previous year's pace but 3 points ahead of five-year average. Corn dented was estimated at 46 percent, 5 days ahead of the State's normal pace and slightly ahead of the previous year. Corn acreage considered mature was estimated at 2 percent, slightly ahead of 2006 and the five-year average. Nine percent of the intended corn silage acreage was harvested as of Sunday evening. This is identical to the previous year and slightly ahead of the five-year average.