March 19, 2024

Harvest well behind average, Northey says

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented Monday on the Iowa crop progress and condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.

“Heavy rains across the southeastern two-thirds of Iowa early last week kept farmers out of the fields for several days and as a result we remain well behind the five-year average with only 19 percent of corn and 61 percent of soybeans harvested,” Northey said. “The dry weather the last several days has been very helpful and farmers will be working long hours to get the crop in when conditions allow.”

Fieldwork stalled early in the week due to rain, but farmers were able to harvest during the rest of the week ending Oct. 19.

Overall there were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Most farmers reported harvesting soybeans while waiting for corn to dry down in the fields. Activities for the week included fall tillage, manure and fertilizer application, biomass baling, and hauling grain.

Ninety-six percent of Iowa’s corn acreage was mature, three days behind the five-year average. Corn harvest advanced 9 percentage points to 19 percent complete, 18 days behind the normal pace.

Seventy-four percent of the soybean acreage was in good to excellent condition.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 55 percent moderate to heavy, increasing 8 percentage points from the previous week.

Pasture and hay have had excellent regrowth this fall with plenty of rain and cooler than normal temperatures.

Livestock conditions were reported as ideal.