Corn Harvest Starting in Pockets of Iowa

Some farmers in the state are starting to pick corn. 

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says they’ve heard some initial reports of the harvest starting this past week in pockets of Iowa. He notes some early varieties of corn have started to turn quickly due to the dry August. 

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA says twenty-six percent of the corn has matured. Ninety-seven percent has reached the dough stage, with eighty-percent of corn dented or beyond – that’s five days ahead of last year, but equal to the five-year average. 

Corn condition is rated mostly good at 57-percent, with 23-percent excellent. Soybeans are rated mostly good at 58-percent, with 20-percent fair. 

Soybeans setting pods reached 98-percent. Soybeans coloring advanced to 44-percent – two days ahead of last year, but one day behind average. Eleven percent of the soybeans were dropping leaves. 

The third cutting of alfalfa hay has reached 93-percent complete. 

Secretary Naig says this past week’s cooler weather is expected to give way to some mid-September heat, with temperatures likely climbing back into the upper 80s and low 90s by this weekend.