Corn and Dry Soils at Planting, Looking Ahead to 2013—Part I

Abstract

<p>Iowa 2012 corn yields ended at 137 bu/acre (<a href="http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Iowa/Publications/Crop_Report/reports/2013/annualcrop13.pdf">see USDA-NASS data</a>), dropping 22 percent below the 30-year trend line yield of 180 bu/acre. For comparison, in 1988 Iowa corn yields were 29 percent below trend line. Based on the <a href="http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a> and modeled soil moisture data from Mesonet (<a href="http://wepp.mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/sm.phtml?pvar=vsm">Volumetric Soil Water Map</a>), 2013 conditions so far appear worse than those of 2012. Optimism wanes for normal soil moisture profiles at planting. That concerns most of us connected to agriculture across Iowa, which really should be everyone! Remember, soil moisture conditions were a hot topic for us last winter as well. I addressed that situation beginning with a series of ICM articles in January 2012 (<a href="http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2012/0131elmore1.htm">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2012/0131elmore2.htm">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2012/0131elmore3.htm">Part 3</a>).</p>