Iowa crop harvest still behind schedule

Although Iowa farmers had six days suitable for field work in the week that ended on Sunday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the corn and soybean harvest remains behind schedule.

Eighty-six percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, four days behind last year and a day behind the five-year average. Moisture content of all corn being harvested dropped to 16 percent.

The USDA said corn continued to be piled outside as storage becomes tighter across the state. Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 62 percent moderate to heavy.

On-farm grain storage is 38 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Off-farm grain storage is 31 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of the state's soybean crop has been harvested, a week behind last year and five days behind the five-year average.

The corn and soybean harvest in south-central and southwest Iowa continues to lag behind the rest of the state.

'The weather was nearly ideal for harvest last week,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented in a statement. 'The warm and dry weather also has been very good for establishment of cover crops and allowed good progress building new conservation practices and getting other work done on the farm.”

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.