Southeast Iowa Crop Conditions

Some areas southeast of Storm Lake have received nice rain totals during the last week and other parts have been less fortunate. Summer thunderstorms are prone to hit small areas with heavier amounts while completely missing other areas. The temperatures have cooled back toward normal during the last week and the forecast is calling for below normal temps over the next 4-5 days followed by average warmth further out.

Corn is getting into a stage of rapid growth. Under “normal” weather, corn plants can move through vegetative
stages (adding height and leaves) at a pace of 1.5-2 days per growth stage. This means that they are adding
another leaf to capture sunlight roughly every 2 days.

There are a few corn fields that are having problems with “rootless corn syndrome”. This happens when the soil
dries out very fast right as the corn plant is beginning to put down it’s first set of brace roots. The brace roots grow
toward moisture and the combination of heat and wind we experienced came at just the wrong time for some
fields. Rain is the best remedy for rootless corn and some areas have been fortunate enough to be rescued by
some moisture.

Soybeans are starting to get a little size to them but are still behind the pace we would like to see. Some fields
have been sprayed with post emergent herbicides and others are waiting a little longer trying to catch as many
emerged weeds as possible. We are hoping the soybeans will grow quickly and begin to shade the area between
the rows before the next flush of weeds begins to emerge after the final herbicide application.

The markets have retreated from the recent rally as weather has turned less threatening and more moisture is
expected in the next week. USDA will release their estimate of planted acres at 11:00 AM Central time on June
30th. This report has the potential to be a market mover for both corn and soybeans if there are any “surprises”
compared to what traders are expecting.
Here are images of what rootless corn looks like in the field after some strong wind with no rain. Notice the lack of
roots getting into the soil in the image on the right.