Hardin County, Iowa was struck hard Sunday morning with a round of storms that took a heavy toll on area crops.  The storm’s path was between 5 and 7 miles wide and 20 to 25 miles long.  Winds upwards of 70 miles an hour brought baseball sized hail that proved devastating to corn and soybean fields and buildings in the Hardin county area.  Below are some photos taken of a customer’s field and farmstead just north of Pine Lake Golf Course near Steamboat Rock, Iowa.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the July 28 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending July 25):

Corn: Silking advanced 24 points during the week, leaving progress, at 55 percent complete, on par with last year, but 21 points behind the 5-year average. Under ideal growing conditions, development was most rapid in the Corn Belt. Thirty-four percent of the crop began silking in Iowa and Minnesota during the week, while 27 percent of the crop in Illinois reached the silking stage. Meanwhile, 7 percent of the Nation’s corn acreage was at or beyond the dough stage, equaling the maturity pace from a year ago, but 10 points slower than normal. At 80 percent complete, doughing was most advanced in North Carolina, while the crop had yet to reach the dough stage in Iowa and Minnesota, as well as in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes regions. Overall, 70 percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down slightly from a week ago, but up 4 points from a year ago.

Soybeans: Nationally, 63 percent of this year’s soybean crop was at or beyond the blooming stage, 3 points ahead of last year, but 13 points behind the average. Following a sluggish start to spring planting, crop development advanced rapidly across much of the growing region, but remained at or behind the average pace in all States except South Dakota. Pod set was evident in 20 percent of the 2009 soybean crop by July 26, one point ahead of last year, but 16 points behind the 5-year average. Pod set had begun in all estimating States, but was most advanced in the Delta, with Mississippi leading all States at 86 percent complete. Overall, 67 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week, but 5 points better than last year.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the July 21 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending July 18):

Corn: By week’s end, 31 percent of the Nation’s corn crop was at or beyond the silking stage, on par with last year, but 23 points, or slightly over a week, behind the 5-year average. Despite significant jumps in development during the week, large phenological delays remained in Illinois and Indiana where the corn crop struggled to overcome setbacks caused by a slow start to planting earlier in the season. Overall, 71 percent of this year’s crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago, but up 6 percent from last year.

Soybeans: Blooming advanced 20 points during the week, leaving progress, at 44 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year, but 18 points behind the 5-year average. The crop was most developed in the Delta States of Louisiana and Mississippi; however progress was at or behind normal in all estimating States. In Wisconsin, continued cool, dry weather hampered crop development and caused a significant decline in crop conditions, as well. Overall, 67 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 66 percent last week and 61 percent last year.

When everything was looking the best it has in years, a hail storm hit northwest Iowa. The storm extended from southwest of Sioux Center to east of Terril. Some fields that got hit don’t look too bad, but others are a total loss for both corn and soybeans.

At this point in the summer, crops are extremely susceptible to hail damage. From about three weeks after emergence through the tasseling stage, corn is at the highest risk for severe yield loss due to hail. This is because the growing point is above the ground and the corn is growing rapidly. Once through the tasseling stage, yield loss due to hail is significantly less.

Here’s some photos of the damage in NW Iowa fields.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the July 14 USDA National Agricultural Service bulletin (for week ending July 11)

Corn: Nationally, 16 percent of this year’s corn crop was at or beyond the
silking stage, 4 points ahead of last year, but 16 points behind the 5-year
average. Progress remained at or behind the average in all States except
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas where 92, 22, and 79 percent of the crop was silking, respectively. Progress was 2 weeks and just over 1 week behind the average pace in Illinois and Indiana, the second and fifth largest corn-producing States, respectively, while silking had not yet begun in South Dakota. With 71 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, conditions were unchanged from a week ago and 7 points above last year.

Soybeans: By week’s end, soybeans blooming advanced to 24 percent complete, 1 point slower than the pace a year ago and 19 points slower than normal. The most rapid development was evident in the western Corn Belt where 18 and 16 percent of the crop began blooming in Nebraska and Iowa, respectively. However, all estimating States lagged the 5-year average. Overall, 66 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago and 7 points better than last year.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the July 7 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending July 5):

Corn: By week’s end, 8 percent of the 2009 corn crop was at or beyond the silking stage, 3 points ahead of last year, but 8 points behind the 5-year average. Crop development was at or behind the average pace in all States except North Carolina. Ideal growing conditions in Tennessee allowed 39 percent of the crop to begin silking during the week. Overall, 71 percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down slightly from a week ago, but 9 points better than last year.

Soybeans: Nationally, 96 percent of the soybean crop had emerged, 2 points ahead of the pace a year ago, but 2 points slower than normal. In Iowa, the largest soybean-producing State, emergence was stagnate (sic) as producers in the southeastern part of the state continued to battle soggy fields in their efforts to plant their intended acreage. Blooming had begun in all estimating States and reached 14 percent complete by July 5, two points ahead of last year, but 10 points behind the 5-year average. Sixty-six percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 68 percent a week ago and 59 percent a year ago.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the June 23 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending June 20):

Corn: The 2009 corn crop continued to develop at a slower-than-normal pace in many locations across the Corn Belt because of delayed spring planting. In Iowa, the largest corn-producing State, emergence was nearly complete, buEditt the average height of this year’s crop was shorter than normal. Overall, 70 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago, but 11 points better than a year ago.

Soybeans: Soybean producers had planted 91 percent of this year’s soybean crop by June 21, one point ahead of last year, but 4 points behind the 5-year average. Planting was complete or nearly complete across the Great Plains and most of the Delta and Corn Belt. However, with just 79 percent of the intended acreage in the ground, planting in Illinois, the second largest soybean-producing state, remained over 3 weeks behind normal. Emergence reached 84 percent complete by week’s end, 4 points ahead of 2009, but 6 points behind the average. Following several weeks of intense planting, favorable growing conditions allowed for rapid crop development in North Dakota where 25 percent of the crop emerged during the week. Overall, 67 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, a slight improvement from a week ago and 10 points better than last year.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the June 9 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending June 6):

Corn: By week’s end, 97 percent of the Nation’s corn acreage was planted, on par with last year’s pace but 2 points behind the 5-year average. The most progress was made in North Dakota and the Corn Belt States of Indiana and Illinois, where producers planted 12, 12, and 11 percent of their crop, respectively. Emergence advanced to 87 percent complete, also on par with last year but 7 points behind normal. Following large jumps in the number of acres planted in previous weeks, the most crop development was seen in North and South Dakota, with 29 and 27 percent of the crop emerging during the week, respectively. Overall, 69 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 60 percent a week ago and the previous year.

Soybeans: Nationally, 78 percent of the 2009 soybean crop was planted, 2 points ahead of last year but 9 points behind the average. Planting neared completion in Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa, three of the top six soybean-producing States, with 99, 97, and 95 percent of the crop planted, respectively. Strong pushes in planting were made in North Dakota and Illinois, where producers took advantage of improved conditions and made up for time lost because of wet fields earlier in the season. Emergence jumped
19 points during the week to 55 percent complete, 3 points ahead of the previous year but 15 points behind the 5-year average.