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Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iowa crops reported in good condition despite surplus moisture
Corn growing in a western Iowa field in August 2023. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Corn inched ahead of schedule last week with a reported 18% of Iowa corn acres reaching the dough stage, according to the crop progress and condition report. While the heavy rain the past several weeks may have helped crops along, some farmers saw standing water and surplus moisture in their fields. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said July precipitation totals for the state are already above normal levels. According to the state mesonet, parts of the state have had more than 7 inches of rain this month. The average precipitation across the state for the July 14-20 reporting period was 1.88 inches, while normal is 1.02 inches. 'Unfortunately, saturated soils and increased streamflow have led to localized issues with standing water and flash flooding in some areas,' Naig said in a statement. According to the crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, north central Iowa had the wettest soils during the past week. Thirty-five percent of the region's topsoil and 37% of its subsoil moisture rated as surplus. On average, 21% of topsoil and 17% of subsoil moisture conditions across the state were in surplus for the reporting period, and both sub and top soil rated 72% adequate in the state. Aside from the ahead-of-schedule corn that entered the dough stage, Iowa crops were right on schedule for the reporting period. Corn silking reached 62% and corn condition rated 86% good to excellent. Soybeans continued to progress with 69% of the crop blooming across the state and 33% already setting pods. Soybean acres rated 80% good or excellent for the reporting period. Alfalfa hay farmers are slightly ahead of the average cutting schedule, with farmers finished with their second cutting of the crop on 79% of acres, and finished with a third cutting on 17% of hay acres. Thirty-five of Iowa's oat acres have been harvested, and farmers in southern regions of the state have harvested more than half of their oats. Oats rated 68% good and 16% excellent for the period. 'While overall crop progress has benefited from the wetter conditions and somewhat milder temperatures, attention is now turning to the heat dome building in over the state, which will bring hot temperatures and humidity this week,' Naig said. Temperature outlooks from the National Weather Service show highs in the low 90s and upper 80s across the state for the rest of the week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iowa corn beginning to silk, soybeans blooming ahead of normal
Corn growing near West Des Moines on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Across the state of Iowa, approximately 2% of planted corn acres are beginning to silk, and 13% of soybean acres are blooming, which is five days ahead of the five-year average, according to the crop progress and condition report. The report, put out weekly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, showed Iowa corn rated 83% good to excellent and soybeans rated 77% good to excellent. Iowa's oat crop also rated highly with 85% good or excellent. Nearly all oats in the state, 81%, have headed and 27% are coloring. The first cutting of alfalfa hay was nearly completed during the reporting period from June 16 through June 22. Twenty-four percent of the second cutting is complete. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The state had an average precipitation of 1.82 inches during the reporting period, which was about six-tenths of an inch above the normal. Some areas of the state had higher precipitation for the reporting period, like Mason City which accumulated 4.41 inches — the most for the week. Soil moisture conditions improved slightly from last week, on average 73% of topsoil moisture was adequate, and just 16% of topsoil was short of moisture. Subsoil moisture for the state as a whole rated 65% adequate and 21% short. Soil moisture conditions were the worst in southern regions, in particular the southwest region, and also rated poorly in northwest and west central portions of the state. Temperatures across Iowa were high during the reporting period, with an average of 76 degrees Fahrenheit, which is nearly 5 degrees above normal, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan. 'Exceedingly warm daytime temperatures in concert with high dewpoints and sustained strong southerly winds produced anomalous conditions not seen at many locations in the observational record,' Glisan wrote in the preliminary weather summary for the state. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the hot, humid and windy conditions from the past week 'really made it feel like summer.' 'Some areas across north-central Iowa received several inches of rain with other locations receiving uninvited hail and high winds,' Naig said. 'The warmer temperatures and increased chances for rain are likely to continue through the end of the month.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Young food entrepreneurs are changing the face of rural America
Visit just about any downtown on a weekend and you will likely happen upon a farmers market. Or, you might grab lunch from a food truck outside a local brewpub or winery. Very likely, there is a community-shared kitchen or food entrepreneur incubator initiative behind the scenes to support this growing foodie ecosystem. As rural America gains younger residents, and grows more diverse and increasingly digitally connected, these dynamics are driving a renaissance in craft foods. One food entrepreneur incubator, Hope & Main Kitchen, operates out of a school that sat vacant for over 10 years in the small Rhode Island town of Warren. Its business incubation program, with over 300 graduates to date, gives food and beverage entrepreneurs a way to test, scale and develop their products before investing in their own facilities. Its markets also give entrepreneurs a place to test their products on the public and buyers for stores, while providing the community with local goods. Food has been central to culture, community and social connections for millennia. But food channels, social media food influencers and craft brews have paved the way for a renaissance of regional beverage and food industry startups across America. In my work in agriculture economics, I see connections between this boom in food and agriculture innovation and the inflow of young residents who are helping revitalize rural America and reinvigorate its Main Streets. An analysis of 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data found that more people have been moving to small towns and rural counties in recent years, and that the bulk of that population growth is driven by 25- to 44-year-olds. This represents a stark contrast to the 2000s, when 90% of the growth for younger demographics was concentrated in the largest metro areas. The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work options it created, along with rising housing prices, were catalysts for the change, but other interesting dynamics may also be at play. One is social connectedness. Sociologists have long believed that the community fabric of rural America contributes to economic efficiency, productive business activity, growth of communities and population health. Maps show that rural areas of the U.S. with higher social capital – those with strong networks and relationships among residents – are some of the strongest draws for younger households today. Another important dynamic for both rural communities and their new young residents is entrepreneurship, including food entrepreneurship. Rural food startups may be leveraging the social capital aligned with the legacy of agriculture in rural America, resulting in a renewed interest in craft and local foods. This includes a renaissance in foods made with local ingredients or linked to regional cultures and tastes. According to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. local sales of edible farm products increased 33% from 2017 to 2022, reaching $14.2 billion. A 2020 study I was involved in, led by agriculture economist Sarah Low, found a positive relationship between the availability of farm-based local and organic foods and complementary food startups. The study termed this new dynamic 'AgriCulture.' We found a tendency for these dynamics to occur in areas with higher natural amenities, such as hiking trails and streams, along with transportation and broadband infrastructure attractive to digital natives. The same dynamic drawing young people to the outdoors offers digital natives a way to experience far-reaching regions of the country and, in some cases, move there. A thriving food and beverage scene can be a pull for those who want to live in a vibrant community, or the new settlers and their diverse tastes may be what get food entrepreneurs started. Many urban necessities, such as shopping, can be done online, but eating and food shopping are local daily necessities. When my colleagues and I talk to community leaders interested in attracting new industries and young families, or who seek to build community through revitalized downtowns and public spaces, the topic of food commonly arises. We encourage them to think about ways they can help draw food entrepreneurs: Can they increase local growers' and producers' access to food markets? Would creating shared kitchens help support food trucks and small businesses? Does their area have a local advantage, such as a seashore, hiking trails or cultural heritage, that they can market in connection with local food? Several federal, state and local economic development programs are framing strategies to bolster any momentum occurring at the crossroads of rural, social connections, resiliency, food and entrepreneurship. For example, a recent study from a collaboration of shared kitchen experts found that there were over 600 shared-use food facilities across the U.S. in 2020, and over 20% were in rural areas. In a survey of owners, the report found that 50% of respondents identified assisting early-growth businesses as their primary goal. The USDA Regional Food Business Centers, one of which I am fortunate to co-lead, have been bolstering the networking and technical assistance to support these types of rural food economy efforts. Many rural counties are still facing shrinking workforces, commonly because of lagging legacy industries with declining employment, such as mining. However, recent data and studies suggest that in rural areas with strong social capital, community support and outdoor opportunities, younger populations are growing, and their food interests are helping boost rural economies. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University Read more: America's dairy farms are disappearing, down 95% since the 1970s − milk price rules are one reason why 3 ways the Trump administration could reinvest in rural America's future Rural America's economies are often left out by a design flaw in federal funding Dawn Thilmany receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Development Administration, and Colorado state agencies focused on agriculture, economic development and food systems.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iowa made ‘rapid progress' planting corn, soybeans last week
Iowa crops emerge from a field along south-bound Interstate 35 on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa farmers have less than 10% of corn acres left to plant, which puts them a whopping 12 days ahead of last year's pace and four days ahead of normal, according to the crop progress and condition report. The report said farmers made 'rapid progress' during the reporting period which had nearly a full week suitable for field work. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the rain and cooler temperatures forecasted this week might mean fewer days in the field, but could be helpful for young crops. 'We need the moisture across the state, and the widespread rainfall will give the recently planted corn and soybeans a good boost,' Naig said. According to the crop report, released weekly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, some corn struggled to emerge, due to dry conditions in scattered areas across the state, and had to be replanted. Overall, 58% of planted corn and 42% of planted soybean acres have emerged. More than 80% of soybean acres across the state have been planted. Iowa had an average rainfall of less than a tenth of an inch of rain and a statewide average temperature of 65 degrees, which is 4 degrees above normal. The lack of precipitation and high temperatures caused topsoil moisture conditions to drop from 70% adequate the previous week, to 53% adequate for the reporting period of May 12-18. Subsoil moisture conditions also dropped from 67% adequate to 58% adequate in the latest report. More than 60% of Iowa is in abnormally dry conditions, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which shows western and southern regions are driest. Despite the somewhat dry conditions, 63% of pastures rated good or excellent in the state. Hay and oat conditions also rated well for the reporting period with 78% and 86%, respectively, rated good or excellent. Precipitation outlooks for the state show 1-2 inches of rain anticipated in the next seven days. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Planting underway across Iowa, some farms impacted by storms last week
Spring planting is underway in Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Corn Growers Association) Iowa farmers made headway planting corn, soybeans and oats early last week, but were slowed by storms that caused destruction in southwest Iowa, according to the Iowa crop progress and condition report. The report, covering April 14 through April 20, shows Iowa has 68% of oats planted, 18% of corn and 11% of soybeans. Planting rates for all three of these crops are ahead of the five-year average. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions improved slightly from the week prior, though both have more than 60% rated as adequate moisture. Soil moisture conditions are slightly better than last year at this time. Soil temperatures measured at a depth of four inches show the ground has warmed up, with most counties measuring in the upper 40s to low 50s. Other field activities for the period included tiling, building waterways and spraying. Iowa crop progress and condition reports are released weekly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service during planting season and through harvest season. Average precipitation for April 14-20 was 0.35 inches across the state, though several areas measured more than an inch and up to nearly 2.5 inches following thunderstorms April 17. Some counties observed hail as large as 4 inches during the storms and two tornadoes touched down, one in Fremont County near Tabor, and the other moved across Fremont and Page counties. According to State Climatologist Justin Glisan, hail and wind damage was reported in Sioux City, Storm Lake and Waverly, in addition to the counties that saw tornadoes. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation, in response to the severe weather, for Buena Vista, Fremont, Page, and Plymouth counties. The proclamation opens up state resources to respond to the damages and gives eligible Iowans 45 days to apply for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program to help with associated repairs and other costs. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited some of areas hit by the storms. 'I visited southwest Iowa over the weekend, where I saw firsthand some of the damage caused by the tornadoes and large hail,' Naig said in a statement. 'My heart goes out to all the Iowans who were impacted by these storms.' Precipitation predictions for the coming week suggest Iowa will have above average rainfall across most of the state, which Naig said might slow spring planting progress as it did the week prior. 'While more delays may occur, the rain will help replenish soil moisture, which would be a welcome development in many areas,' Naig said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
