Weekly Assessment of Iowa's Agricultural development and crop health status
Iowa Crop Progress Update: Mid-July 2022
As the summer heat continues to beat down on Iowa's farmlands, the state's crops are showing a mixed bag of progress and conditions. Although precise data for the third cutting of alfalfa and specific crop progress for soybeans, corn, oats, and hay in mid-July 2022 are not available, we can look to the comparable crop conditions in mid-late July 2025 for some insights.
According to reports from 2025, corn and soybean conditions were generally good to excellent, with corn condition rated around 59% good and 28% excellent, and soybeans blooming reaching 81% by late July 2025. Field activities during that time included harvesting oats and cutting hay, indicating some progress on these crops.
However, wet and humid weather prevailed, with above-average rainfall limiting fieldwork to about 3.6 days during the week ending July 27, 2025. This may have affected timely cutting and crop condition. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were mostly adequate to surplus, supporting crop growth but potentially slowing field operations.
Fast forward to mid-July 2022, and the crop landscape in Iowa is as follows:
- Soybeans in Iowa are setting pods at a rate of 75%, with the condition of soybeans rated as mostly good at 60%. Soybeans blooming in Iowa has reached 93%.
- Eighty-three percent of the oat crop in Iowa has been harvested for grain.
- Corn in the dough stage in Iowa is at 68%, which is a day ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Corn in Iowa is rated as mostly good at 57%. Ninety-six percent of Iowa's corn has reached the silking stage. Fifteen-percent of the corn crop in Iowa has dented.
- Iowa's second cutting of alfalfa hay is nearing completion, with the third cutting currently half complete.
- Hay condition in Iowa is rated as 85% good to excellent.
Localized flooding is affecting parts of eastern Iowa due to several waves of heavy rainfall. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has reported on the flooding situation.
Forecasts indicate seasonal temperatures for the upcoming week in Iowa, with drier conditions expected this week according to the forecasts.
For those seeking 2022 mid-July Iowa crop reports, I recommend consulting the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service archives or the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s historical reports directly.
- In the midst of mid-July 2022, KMCH news reports that Iowa's soybeans are setting pods at a rate of 75%, with the condition of soybeans rated as mostly good at 60%.
- The agriculture sector in Iowa is progressing, as evidenced by the 83% of oat crop that has been harvested for grain.
- Local weather reports suggest that Iowa is expected to experience seasonal temperatures in the upcoming week, with drier conditions projected, potentially aiding in field operations that might have been hampered by earlier wet and humid weather.
