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Rain Provides Cedar Falls, Iowa, Corn Crops With Much-Needed Relief

Posted on: Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 21:00 CDT

Jul. 26--CEDAR FALLS -- Thirsty crops got a much-needed drink last week, boosting the confidence of area farmers that good corn yields are in their future.

The metro area received 1.45 inches of rain, including more than a half-inch Sunday night. With the critical pollination period under way, many Northeast Iowa farmers now think the corn crop has received enough moisture to develop full ears.

Monday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report said Northeast Iowa producers are definitely more fortunate than others.

Since April 1, the Waterloo area has received 15.61 inches of rain, only .05 inches below normal. Farmers near Davenport, though, haven't been as lucky. Most are watching crops burn up as a combination of high temperatures and little rain -- only 4.8 inches as of April 1, or 9.49 inches below normal -- take its toll.

Still, two weeks of extreme heat and below-normal precipitation had Northeast Iowa farmers sweating as well. Kermit Allard, a grain farmer northwest of Cedar Falls, said the latest rains came just in time.

"We were to the critical point of needing it pretty bad. The rain was very welcome, Allard said, noting corn leaves were curling in the afternoon hurting ear development.

"That got us over the hump (with corn)," he continued. "It was a big boost for the beans too, since they are starting to bloom. But we still need rain in August,"

The report said some areas received enough rain to improve crop conditions while others didn't. Cooler temperatures, which are forecasted for this week, and precipitation is still needed in all areas, reporters said.

Statewide, corn is developing faster than the five-year averages. Eighty percent of the crop is silked as of Sunday, while 16 percent is in the dough stage.

The crop is rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 46 percent good and 21 percent excellent.

Spraying for insects in soybeans was reported to be light in areas where bean leaf beetles and soybean aphids were present. Agronomists say east central Iowa is experiencing the most pressure, though it's still not considered a big problem.

"The highest aphid levels and most frequent spraying have been reported south and east of Waterloo where moisture stress is highest," said George Cummins, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist based in Charles City, in Crop Notes. "Spider mites have also been reported in modest numbers in these same drier areas. Lorsban, an organophosphate insecticide, has proven effective against both spider mites and aphids in case the situation arises."

Because of their experience in 2003, when aphids and drought cut soybean yields in half, some producers are not waiting for threshold levels or in some cases for initial aphid appearance, Cummins said.

Allard said he's starting to see some aphids, but not in large numbers yet. He scouts every four to five days for the pests and will apply pesticides only when needed.

The report said 89 percent of the state's soybeans are blooming and 49 percent are setting pods, both ahead of the five-year average. The crop is rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 49 percent good and 18 percent excellent.

The heat and humidity were causing some stress in both cattle and hogs.

Some operators were feeding hay due to poor pasture conditions.

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To see more of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wcfcourier.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

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Source: Waterloo Courier

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