Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Aug. 17 - 23, 2026

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 24, 2026) - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

"Beautiful weather throughout much of last week helped cap off an incredibly successful Iowa State Fair, with fairgoers turning out in record numbers," said Secretary Naig. "As students and families settle into the routines of a new school year, farmers are keeping an eye on the forecast as crops continue to mature. Warmer temperatures and near-normal rainfall into early September should help keep the crops moving along as we inch closer to the busy fall harvest season."

Crop Report
There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 23, 2026. This is 0.4 days less than last year, when there were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent very short, 21 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Ninety percent of Iowa's corn crop has reached the dough stage, which is 3 percentage points ahead of last year. Forty-seven percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is 5 percentage points ahead of last year. One percent of corn has reached maturity, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 88 percent, which is 1 percentage point behind last year. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of oats have been harvested, which is 1 percentage point ahead of last year. Pasture condition rated 65 percent good to excellent.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA's website at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Unseasonably dry conditions returned to the state with most stations reporting below normal rainfall. A shift to a more seasonal weather pattern brought near normal to slightly warmer conditions across Iowa through the reporting period; the statewide average temperature was 71.1 degrees, 0.5 degree above normal.

A complex of showers and few thunderstorms pushed across southern Iowa through Sunday (16th) afternoon before dissipating in the evening hours. Daytime temperatures were in the upper 70s to low 80s with northerly winds and scattered cloud cover. Rain totals were generally a few tenths of an inch, though Keokuk Lock and Dam (Lee County) reported 0.64 inch while 0.75 inch was observed near Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County). Foggy conditions developed over portions of the state on Monday (17th) with morning lows from the mid to upper 50s north to low 60s south. Afternoon conditions were pleasant with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s with light winds and ample sunshine. Clouds increased over western Iowa into the early morning hours of Tuesday (18th) as showers crossed into Iowa; moderate to heavy rain fell across the extreme southwest corner after sunrise with additional development in eastern Iowa. Isolated severe-warned storms also fired across portions of northern and eastern Iowa later in the afternoon through sunset along with heavier showers in the southeast. Overall rain totals were highest in the southern corners, with 1.35 inches in Sidney (Fremont County) to 1.47 inches in Augusta (Lee County). Many southern stations observing rainfall also registered amounts in the 0.25- to 0.75-inch range. Wind shifted northerly overnight as a stationary front held across southern Iowa. Another round of stronger thunderstorms moved into southwestern Iowa on Wednesday (19th) morning with thunderstorms firing east to west along the surface boundary through the day; a weak land spout was observed near Marsh (Louisa County) later in the afternoon. Daytime temperatures held in the 70s statewide as clouds cleared and winds shifted northeasterly.

Thursday (20th) was a mostly sunny day for much of the state with stronger southerly winds in western Iowa. Highs stayed in the low 80s with a few showers moving through northeastern Iowa by nighttime. Friday (21st) dawned with temperatures in the 60s, light southerly winds and partly cloudy skies east and foggy conditions west. Conditions warmed into the mid 80s with higher dewpoints and more unstable air in eastern Iowa. A narrow line of thunderstorms, some severe warned, developed later in the afternoon. Several stations registered higher totals from 0.51 inch in Le Claire (Scott County) to 0.62 inch in Camanche (Clinton County). Fog was reported over northern Iowa on Saturday (22nd) morning with morning temperatures ranging from the mid 50s northwest to mid 60s southeast. Winds swung back around northerly as a cold front cleared the state; daytime temperatures were in the upper 70s to low 80s north to south. Starry skies persisted into Sunday (23rd) morning with lows in the 50s.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no measurable amounts at many stations to 2.45 inches in Thurman (Fremont County). The statewide weekly average rainfall was 0.24 inch, while the normal is 0.93 inch. Multiple stations reported the week's high temperature of 89 degrees on the 17th, 21st and 22nd, on average six degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the week's low temperature of 47 degrees on the 23rd, 11 degrees below normal.