WATERLOO - Believe it or not, crops could use a drink.

From last November through June, more rain fell in the state than in the past 120 years leading to record flooding. In April, Waterloo smashed its rainfall record by more than 2 inches, totaling 8.53 inches.

Monday's weekly U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report said soil moisture remains mostly adequate statewide, but shortages increased as little rainfall fell across Iowa last week.

Clear skies allowed Doug and Janice Martins to harvest third-crop alfalfa Monday. The report said 32 percent of third-cutting hay is baled statewide, nearly two weeks behind normal.

While Janice Martins is grateful to be able to get a third cut of hay, she's worried about their soybeans.

"The soybeans are ready for a drink. They're starting to show signs of stress at the crucial time when pods are filling out," Martins said. "Timely rains are pretty crucial."

The family's corn is still OK, she said. Corn roots are longer and can utilize subsoil moisture reserves - below six inches to five feet. Soybean and hay roots, though, are not as long.

Given the high price of corn, the Martins are hoping to bale one more time. The more hay they can feed their cattle and meat goats the better. But hay needs rain to thrive.

"The first two cuttings were pretty fair. The third crop lacks a little bit, we just didn't have the rain," Janice said.

During the past 30 days, rainfall in Northeast Iowa was about 3 inches below normal, officials said. Brian Lang, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist based in Decorah, said soybeans on lighter soils are showing moisture stress. Drier conditions also have helped soybean aphids to thrive. The report said aerial spraying for the yield-robbing pests continues.

Lang reported a research field near Decorah was 100 percent infested on Aug. 24 with an average of 1,752 aphids per plant, more than three times the amount to warrant spraying.

"The cool and dry weather continues to favor aphid development, although it seems to be cresting at my research site currently at R5.5 stage," Lang said in a statement. "This site is also showing some initial signs (some leaves) with significant numbers of aphids dying off. I assume that I will see a large die-off of aphids next week."

The report said the state's soybeans are rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 48 percent good and 15 percent excellent. The crop should be mature and safe from frost by Sept. 18, Lang said.

Near-normal temperatures prevented significant crop and livestock stress last week, the report said. It also indicated more warm days are needed for crop development.

Iowa's corn crop is about 8 days behind normal, the report said. Lang expects the silage harvest to begin in eight to 10 days when corn kernels reach full dent. He predicts the crop will be safe from frost around Sept. 24.

The crop statewide is rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 49 percent good and 16 percent excellent.

"The dry weather has been beneficial for haying and other fieldwork," said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in a statement. "However, more rain and warm days are needed to support growth. Let's hope the weather continues to cooperate."

Contact Matthew Wilde

at (319) 291-1579 or

matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.