Iowa crop harvest virtually complete

Iowa corn and soybean producers have virtually wrapped up the harvest of this year's corn and soybean crops, taking advantage of breaks in the weather during the week that ended on Sunday.

Ninety-six percent of Iowa's corn acreage has been harvested, equal to 2013 but two days ahead of the five-year average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The corn harvest in south central Iowa continued to trail behind the rest of the state with only 85 percent complete. Isolated cornfields remain to be harvested throughout the rest of Iowa.

Iowa's soybean harvest was nearly complete with 99 percent of the acreage in the bin.

'The cold weather and snowfall continued to create challenges for farmers,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

Cold temperatures and snow halted most activities early in the week, but rising temperatures as the weekend neared allowed Iowa farmers almost four days suitable for fieldwork. Some tile and terrace work continued despite the colder temperatures.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 37 percent moderate to heavy, dropping 11 percentage points from the previous week. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated at 93 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was 97 percent adequate to surplus.