Farmers made some big strides in the fields this past week – thanks to the dry weather. Iowa’s corn harvest is now more than halfway finished – with the potential to wrap up a bit earlier this year.
This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA says 59-percent of the corn crop has been harvested – that’s one day ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the five-year average.
Soybeans harvested reached 88-percent complete – eleven days ahead of the average.
Corn condition is rated 65-percent good to excellent, with moisture content of the field corn being harvested for grain at 18-percent.
Dry conditions across the state have led to field fires during harvesting this past week.
Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says while the persistently dry conditions have helped push harvest progress along, moderate drought continues to spread statewide and is now covering nearly half of Iowa.
