March 29, 2024

Farmers make good progress, Northey says

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

“The agreeable weather last week allowed many farmers to make good harvest progress, but with 36 percent of corn and 81 percent of soybeans harvested we remain behind the five-year average,” Northey said. “Wet fields and rain showers continue to slow progress in some areas and hopefully warm, dry weather will allow harvest to progress in a timely manner.”

Above average temperatures and mostly dry weather allowed harvest to progress at a normal pace during the 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week.

With almost all of Iowa’s corn acreage mature, harvest was 36 percent complete, 16 days behind the five-year average. Moisture content of corn at harvest was estimated at 19 percent, encouraging some farmers to harvest, but still limiting others who are waiting for corn to dry down in the field. Seventy-seven percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition.