Fall Harvest Picks Up as Dry Weather Persists

The fall harvest picked up this past week, with weather conditions really cooperating. 

The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA on Monday says corn harvested has reached 11 percent – that’s two days ahead of normal – while the soybean harvest has reached 27 percent – three days ahead of average. 

We’ve had a chance to visit with a few more area farmers this past week during our “KMCH Bring Me My Lunch” contest. Randy Cook was working on his crops Tuesday near Worthington.

Merlin Krapfl, who farms in the Ryan area, was busy with fieldwork on Monday. The harvest is going well for him, but he says we need rain.

Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says as we head into October, harvest activity will move into high gear with dry conditions expected to continue. Naig says although suitable for harvest, these warm and dry conditions, paired with low humidity and gusty winds, also produce an environment that can lead to field fires. He is encouraging farmers to be prepared, have a plan, and keep safety top of mind.

BMML photo of Randy Cook courtesy of Eric Walker/KMCH