Iowa Corn Harvest Reaches 68-Percent Complete

The harvest is starting to wrap up for some farmers across the state.

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says after another dry week, Iowa’s harvest took another sizable step toward the finish line. 

The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA on Monday says the corn harvest has reached 68-percent complete – that’s five days ahead of last year and ten days ahead of average. Farmers in the south-central portion of the state are behind, with just 50-percent of their corn crop harvested.

Nearly all of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the mature stage or beyond, with moisture content of field corn being harvested at 15-percent. 

Soybeans harvested has reached 91-percent – that’s one week ahead of last year and almost two weeks ahead of the average. Farmers in northern Iowa, as well as west-central and east-central, have already harvested 94-percent or more of their soybeans.

Secretary Naig says heading into the last stretch of October, temperatures are expected to remain warmer than average with more chances for rain, which could slow or temporarily pause harvest in some areas of the state. But with drought conditions continuing to spread, Naig says we would welcome a shot of rain to reduce fire risks, get cover crops established and begin to replenish our soils, streams and pastures.