Report: Iowa’s Corn 48% Matured, Good Condition

The warm and dry weather is helping to push Iowa’s corn and soybean crop toward maturity as harvest gets underway across the state. 

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says these conditions have also been helpful to farmers who are chopping silage, baling hay, seeding cover crops, and getting equipment and bins ready.

The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA on Monday says 48-percent of corn has matured – that’s four days ahead of last year and three days ahead of average. Ninety percent of corn was dented or beyond – five days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the five-year average. 

Corn condition is rated mostly good at 59-percent, with 20-percent excellent – while soybean condition is rated 57-percent food and 20-percent fair. Soybeans coloring advanced to 73 percent – two days ahead of last year and one day ahead of average. Thirty-five percent of soybeans were dropping leaves. 

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 96 percent complete. 

Secretary Naig says looking ahead, forecasts indicate that the warm temperatures will continue this week with rain chances trending back into the picture.