July ended with hot temperatures and record high dew point temperatures, according to a weekly weather report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
While the temperatures were warm and parts of the state could use some rain as of the July 27 through Aug. 2 reporting period, Iowa’s crops continue to progress closely to the average pace as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to State Climatologist Justin Glisan, Iowa had slightly above average rainfall for the week, with a statewide average of 1.31 inch, while the normal is nine-tenths of an inch. The eastern half of the state received heavy rain during the period, with areas logging accumulation totals between 1.5 inches and 8 inches for the week.
Glisan reported that temperatures tapered off late in the week, despite sitting in the “unseasonably warm” category for most of the reporting period. According to Glisan, the average temperature statewide was 76.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 3.6 degrees above the normal.
Per the weather report, “numerous” Iowa airports logged record dew-point temperatures July 26. Burlington Municipal Airport in Des Moines County recorded a dew point temperature of 85 degrees and a high temperature of 92 degrees, making for a heat index of 121 degrees.
A weather station in Little Sioux logged the highest air temperature for the week at 102 degrees, which Glisan said was also the warmest temperature recorded in the state this year.
The temperatures might have made it sweaty out in the field, but farmers had 5.7 days suitable for field work during the reporting period, according to USDA’s crop progress and condition report.
All but 7% of Iowa’s corn acres reached the silking stage by the end of the reporting period, which is 2 percentage points ahead of the year prior and the five-year average.
Four percent of corn acres reached the dent stage in Iowa, which is half of the amount from the year prior, but just 2 percentage points behind the five-year average.
Corn acres in the dough stage continued to sit slightly behind the 2025 crop’s pace and slightly ahead of the five-year average with 48% of the crop in the dough stage as of Sunday.
Corn condition rated 80% good to excellent and soybean condition was 78% good to excellent for the reporting period.
Nearly 90% of soybeans acres are blooming in Iowa, putting the crop on pace with the 2025 soybean crop. Just over 60% of soybean acres were setting pods as of the reporting period. At 61%, the crop is 2 percentage points behind last year and the average.
The majority of oat acres — 87% — have been harvested, according to the report, which rated the crop as 82% good to excellent.
Abnormally dry conditions increased from 36% of the state the week prior to 46% of the state in the most recent weekly report from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the dry conditions, including 22% of the state in moderate drought conditions, are on the western side of the state.
Sixty percent of topsoil was rated as having adequate moisture and 25% of topsoil moisture was rated as short for the period. Subsoil moisture rated 58% adequate and 27% short.
According to 30-day maps from the state, most of Iowa accumulated less rain than what is typical in July, though parts of central and eastern Iowa received between 1 and 4 inches more than the normal. Average temperatures across the state were between 1 and 3 degrees warmer during July 2026 than the normal.
Originally published on iowacapitaldispatch.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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