Harvest is finally moving in northwest Iowa — but the wet weather is leaving farmers with plenty to watch in the fields.
After a historically wet September, farmers are beginning to get back into the fields as conditions finally improve.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows farmers had 1.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday.
Seven percent of Iowa’s corn has now been harvested, but that’s still 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. Five percent of soybeans have been harvested — a much larger 33 percentage points behind the five-year average.
Iowa State University Extension field agronomist Gentry Sorenson works with farmers in Buena Vista and surrounding counties. He says some farmers are already testing fields, particularly where soils have dried more quickly.
The latest report shows 85% of Iowa’s corn has reached maturity, three points behind the five-year average. Soybeans are further behind, with 81% of the crop dropping leaves — nine points behind the five-year average.
Sorenson says soybean harvest will likely be a priority in many fields, although conditions vary considerably from one area to another. Some soybeans still need additional time to dry down following the prolonged wet weather.
And once farmers move into corn, Sorenson says they’ll need to pay close attention to crop quality.
Corn is currently rated 72% good to excellent statewide, while soybeans are rated 70% good to excellent.
But the moisture situation remains a concern. Statewide, 45% of topsoil is rated surplus, while 34% of subsoil moisture is surplus.
That means even though the surface is drying, some of the wetter areas may need several more days before they’re ready for heavy equipment.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says warmer and drier conditions are expected to give farmers another opportunity to make progress this week.
Sorenson says farmers should use those opportunities by evaluating each field individually.
The wet conditions also mean farmers need to be prepared for wetter grain and potential storage issues.
Iowa State Extension has warned farmers to pay close attention to grain quality, including potential ear molds and mycotoxins, and to make sure harvested grain is properly dried and monitored in storage.
Sorenson says farmers shouldn’t feel like they have to make up every lost harvest day immediately. If the weather cooperates, he says there’s enough equipment capacity to make significant progress in a short period of time.
Safety will be especially important if farmers work longer hours to take advantage of the favorable weather window.
And Sorenson has one more recommendation for farmers who discover crop damage or grain-quality problems once they’re in the field.
For now, the forecast is giving northwest Iowa farmers something they haven’t had much of lately — several days to make progress. But after a historically wet September, Sorenson says the key will be knowing what’s happening in each field and harvesting accordingly.
