Corn and Soybean Harvest Underway Across Iowa

The combines are rolling in many areas of the state. 

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA on Monday says five-percent of corn has been harvested – that’s running right on time according to the five-year average. Soybeans harvested has reached nine-percent – that’s a day ahead of average.

Our “KMCH, Bring Me My Lunch” contest kicked off Monday, with lunch deliveries to local farmers as they harvest their crops. Tom Vaske, who farms a corn and soybean operation near Masonville, was our winner on the first day. Vaske told KMCH he got started on the harvest last Wednesday.

Corn maturity has reached 61-percent, with corn in the dent stage or beyond at 93-percent. Soybeans coloring or beyond has reached 88-percent, with soybeans dropping leaves at 59-percent. 

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says rain this past weekend may have slowed progress in some parts of the state, but overall, harvest will continue ramping up throughout Iowa. Naig says the warmer and drier outlook into early October should provide an excellent window of opportunity for many farmers.

photo courtesy of Jon Swisher/KMCH