Dry weather aids corn, soybean harvest

Dry weather over the week that ended on Sunday allowed more Iowa farmers to get their corn and soybean crops out of the field. But the overall harvest progress remains behind normal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 52 percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, four days behind the five-year average. Moisture content was at 17 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous week.

Corn condition was rated 83 percent good to excellent. Southeast Iowa is the only area of the state with over two-thirds of the corn for grain crop harvested.

Seventy-seven percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, more than a week behind last year and six days behind normal. Farmers in southwest and south central Iowa still have more than 50 percent of their soybean crop to harvest.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 12 percent none, 25 percent light, 37 percent moderate and 26 percent heavy.

Off-farm grain storage availability was rated 20 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was rated 26 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said an increasing number of fields are turning green across the state. That should provide good conditions for cover crop growth this fall.

Common cover crops used in Iowa include winter hardy plants such as rye and wheat, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Other less-common, but also effective, cover crops include oats, spring wheat, hairy vetch, red clover, sweet clover, turnips, rapeseed and radishes.