DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented Monday on the Iowa crop progress and condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.
“Dryer weather last week allowed farmers to get back into the fields to chop silage or make hay. Harvest of seed corn fields is also in full swing,” Northey said. “If the weather remains dry this week wide-spread harvest will likely begin. Farmers are anxious to get into the fields for what could be very good yields in much of the state.”
Ninety-two percent of Iowa’s corn crop was in or beyond the dent stage, four days ahead of the previous year but three days behind the five-year average. Corn mature reached 37 percent, 10 days behind normal. 76 percent of the corn acreage was reported in good to excellent condition.
Leaves were turning color on 79 percent of the soybean crop, five days ahead of the previous year. 74 percent of the soybean acreage was in good to excellent condition.