August rain grows the grain.

Throughout the last half of August, northeast and central Iowa has been blessed with timely rains just as the area crops look to finish their productive cycle.

These late season rains will help fill in soybean pods and add more weight to the parched corn crop.

Soybean fields will start to turn color and drop leaves as they reach maturation as well as corn. Throughout the growing season we have seen strong commodity prices backed by high demand, shorter supply, and sustained drought.

These strong prices and a bright outlook on the ag economy have moved input prices and land values higher than that of the last great Ag Boom from 2012 to 2014.

The land demand and interest from farmers and investors has skyrocketed land prices at auctions. The end of August brought a Grundy County 90 CSR parcel to record heights of $22,600 per acre.

Despite strong commodity prices compared to previous years, we have seen a small tick back in prices since early summer primarily due to stronger than expected yield predictions, impending harvest, and disruptions from Hurricane Ida’s landfall.

On the livestock side, third cutting alfalfa is primarily wrapped up and fourth cutting is on the way. Over the past couple years, African Swine Fever has caused massive problems to European and Asian hog production resulting in high mortality rates. Currently there are no cases in the United States, but the USDA inspectors are all hands on deck in preparation for an arrival.

Results of the virus reaching the U.S. shore will have major implications on trade to our EU and Asian partners.

Reminder that combines and equipment will be moving about the roadways shortly, stay safe!

Cordt Holub is a seeds salesman and corn, soybean and cow-calf farmer in Tama County. He is a fifth generation farmer and works with his father, Craig, and brother, Cade Holub near Buckingham, Iowa.