Crops near breaking point in Grundy County, Iowa

Since planting, there have been just 9 inches of rain on fields just west and south of Grundy Center, Iowa. Monthly totals include: April, 4.40 inches, May, 2.85 inches, and June, 1.75 inches, with no precipitation the past 20 days.

Currently the crop remains in good to excellent condition compared to many other sections of the country. The rich Tama-Muscatine soil, featuring a clay base, has helped plants maintain excellent color even though subsoil moisture reserves are virtually depleted.

Tasseling in this field, which was planted in mid April, began to appear the final week of June. That stage of development carried over during the 90- to 100-degree temperatures recorded from June 27 through July 6. The extent of damage is unknown at this time.

A field directly across the road was planted the third week of May. Leaves have rolled for several days due to extreme heat in the blazing sun and lack of moisture.

While plants have shaded each row, cracks are beginning to show up in soybeans. This field received 1 inch of rain on June 11 and 0.8 on June 20 with nothing since.

Some soybeans should be blooming in two weeks. While lack of moisture is of immediate concern, various insect infestations and Sudden Death Syndrome could also play a significant role in final yields.

Average June precipitation across the Corn Belt was only 2.3 inches, the driest since 1988 and the second driest since the Dust Bowl of 1936. June average U.S. temperatures ended up being 71 degrees. In the last 11 days, eight days have reached record highs.

Examining six of the last 14 years with unfavorable weather, current soil moisture conditions are the worst on record and temperatures were some of the highest ever noted.

Just 12 percent of Iowa’s soils are rated moisture sufficient. A year ago, 80 percent of the Hawkeye State’s soil profile was rated adequate in moisture.

Without timely and adequate moisture during the remainder of the growing season, ear development and test weight will be key factors in determining final yields on the 2012 crop.

In the past century, drought was virtually nonexistent in this part of Iowa. Will the rain gods come soon enough for these fields with a CSR rating of 88.7 to 91.4 to reach the five-year average of 200+ bu./acre corn and nearly 60 bu./acre soybeans?

"Experts" are all over the board on stating national yield estimates. USDA has pegged that number at 146 bu./acre. Time and your rain gauge will determine the final yield.

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