Iowa farmers catching up with corn, soybean harvest

The pace of Iowa's corn and soybean harvest picked up substantially in the week that ended on Sunday, with the soybean harvest running slightly ahead of normal.

Monday's report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service showed 55 percent of Iowa's corn for grain or seed harvested, up 20 percent in the last week and only 5 percent behind normal.

Moisture content of all corn in the field was estimated at 21 percent while moisture content of corn harvested was 19 percent. Corn lodging was rated at 65 percent none, 21 percent light, 11 percent moderate and 3 percent heavy.

Corn condition was 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 40 percent good and 9 percent excellent.

Iowa's soybean harvest increased 17 percent and stands at 87 percent complete, which is two days ahead of normal.

"It was a busy week in farm fields across the state as 20 percent of the corn crop and 17 percent of soybeans were harvested," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. "Farmers worked long hours to make as much progress as possible since wet weather is forecast for the week ahead that could again slow harvest."

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 60 percent moderate to heavy. Ninety-six percent of Iowa farmers reported adequate or surplus off-farm grain storage availability and 88 percent reported adequate or surplus on-farm grain storage availability.

There were six days suitable for fieldwork, which also included fall tillage and liquid manure and fertilizer applications. Snow fell in the northern part of the state, and a killing frost finally reached southern Iowa.

Snow briefly accumulated along a line from Sioux Falls to the Quad Cities with the greatest amounts of around 2 inches falling across east central Iowa.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 21 percent very short, 32 percent short, 47 percent adequate and zero percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 31 percent very short, 36 percent short, 33 percent adequate and zero percent surplus.

Pasture condition rated 23 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 17 percent good and 2 percent excellent. Hay supplies were considered 16 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus across Iowa with 91 percent rated in fair to good condition.