Dry conditions lead to more corn, soybeans being harvested

The new USDA Iowa crop report shows almost a third of the state’s soybean crop planted this year was harvested in just the last week.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Iowa Field Office ag statistician Melissa Couch says another week of dry and windy weather resulted in the corn and soybean harvest being the primary activity this week for Iowa farmers.

The soybean harvest she says is almost 60% completed statewide.  “Soybeans dropping leaves reached 93%, one day ahead of last year and five days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans harvested reached 58% this week, four days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the average. Iowa farmers were able to harvest 31% of the state’s soybean crop during the week ending October 6th. Soybean condition rated 76% good to excellent.” Here in the north-central Iowa crop reporting district, 70% of the soybeans have been harvested, up from 26% of the harvest completed last week. Soybeans dropping leaves here locally reached 99%.

Couch says the corn harvest is slightly ahead of the average.  “Corn mature reached 90%, six days behind last year but five days ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 22%, two days behind last year but one day ahead of normal. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 18%. Corn condition rated 77% good to excellent.” Here in north-central Iowa, 17% of the corn had been harvested and 95% was mature.

Couch says the dry weather has led to combine and other equipment fires as weather conditions increased the risk of such fires.

You can see the full crop report by clicking here