DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

“Harvest continued nearly unabated last week as the dry weather allowed farmers to stay in the field almost the entire week,” Northey said. “With 66 percent of the corn and 94 percent of the soybeans now harvested, this remains one of the earliest harvests in recent memory.”

Harvest Ahead

Agricultural Summary: For the third consecutive week Iowa experienced favorable conditions for harvest to continue. Iowa’s temperatures were mostly in the seventies during daytime hours with plenty of sunshine, before dipping into the forties overnight. Along with seasonable high temperatures, most of the state was again dry. However, parts of Iowa did experience showers on Monday and Tuesday, where most locations received less than a half inch of rain.

With extended periods of warm, dry weather growers have been able to harvest day and night. Long hours in the field have meant almost all the soybeans have been picked and over half the corn has been harvested. Iowa is well ahead of normal in their harvest progression, which should leave time for fall tillage, fertilizing and installing tile. One downside to the summer-like conditions has been the number of field and equipment fires reported.

There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week, equal to the previous week. For the third consecutive week, all districts in Iowa reported more than 6.0 days suitable. Five districts reported 7.0 days suitable last week. Topsoil moisture rated 8 percent very short, 25 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus.

Field Crops Report: Sixty-six percent of the corn acres have been harvested, 31 days ahead of last year and 18 days ahead of the five-year average and the furthest corn harvest has been by October 17th since 2000 when 80 percent of the corn acres had been harvested. Moisture content of all corn remaining in the field is estimated at 16 percent, while the moisture content of corn being harvested is estimated at 14 percent. Corn lodging is rated 72 percent none, 21 percent light, 6 percent moderate, and 1 percent heavy. Ear droppage is rated 80 percent none, 15 percent light, 4 percent moderate, and 1 percent heavy. Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 22 percent excellent.

Soybean acres harvested increased 14 percentage points to 94 percent complete, 4 weeks ahead of last year and 3 weeks ahead of the five-year average and the furthest soybean harvest has been by October 17th since 1987 when 97 percent of the acres had been harvested. Grain movement was reported at 14 percent none, 20 percent light, 38 percent moderate, and 28 percent heavy. On-farm storage availability rated 18 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus, while off-farm storage availability rated 14 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Hay and roughage availability is currently rated 12 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus.