Local fields looking spotty thanks to deluge

June's torrential rainfall has area crops looking like a bad haircut.

According to New Century FS agronomist Alic Mohni, a lot of fields are uneven this year because of heavy precipitation totals. Many area farmers have had to replant portions of their corn and soybeans multiple times thanks to double-digit rainfall totals that drowned out some fields

"I feel like a lot of guys are trying to get something planted on these flooded areas to just get something on there," he said. "It needs to stay dry."

Mohni previously thought later-planted crops would have better yields, but he's since changed his tune.

"The stuff that's later planted has fallen behind that much farther. The unevenness of it, I don't think it's going to be that good," he said. "The early-planted stuff looks better, has a better root system and is pulling ahead more."

Mohni said some people were still planting corn this week; however, it will be chopped for cattle feed. He also knew of some beans still being planted as well as sorghum.

"I think the farther south you go, the better things look," he said.

With a relatively dry stretch of recent weather, many farmers have been busy applying herbicide.

"Weeds are coming on hard and they're the focus right now," said Mohni.

Statewide, numbers show things are still wet. The USDA's Iowa Crop and Condition Report on Monday reported the topsoil moisture condition at 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus.

Corn silking reached 17 percent, equal to last year but four days ahead of the five-year average. Corn condition was 76 percent good-to-excellent.

Soybean crop blooming reached 32 percent, two days behind last year but equal to the average. Soybeans setting pods reached 5 percent. Soybean condition rated 76 percent good-to-excellent.

Oat crop headed or beyond reached 95 percent. Oats turning color reached 63 percent, five days ahead of the average. Oats harvested for grain was 8 percent complete, six days ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 79 percent good-to excellent.

The state's second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 34 percent complete. Hay condition rated 81 percent good-to-excellent. Pasture condition rated 73 percent good-to-excellent. Feedlot conditions remain muddy due to excess precipitation and flooding.