Combines are rolling across Iowa.
State Ag Secretary Mike Naig says the warm and dry weather is allowing farmers to make good progress on corn and soybean harvest.
Dennis and his wife, Sherry, farm near Earlville. He says they’re off to a good start.
Tim Goedken and his three daughters farm near Hopkinton.
Nearly all the corn was dented or beyond. Eighty percent of corn has matured – four days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the five-year average. The corn for grain harvest was 15 percent complete – four days ahead of last year and three days ahead of average. The moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain this past week was 20 percent. Corn condition is rated mostly good at 53 percent, with 23 percent fair.
Meanwhile, soybeans coloring was at 95 percent. Eighty-three percent of soybeans were dropping leaves – three days ahead of last year and two days ahead of average. Soybean harvest was 17 percent complete – three days behind last year and the average. Soybean condition is rated mostly good at 55 percent, with 22 percent fair.
And with the favorable weather expected to hold through next week, farmers should be able to continue making harvest headway – though conditions may be a bit dusty.
We caught up with Carol Zieser last Thursday during our “Bring Me My Lunch” contest deliveries – she farms with her husband in rural Rowley and they’re hoping to roll this week.
Secretary Naig says as we get a little further into the start of October, weather outlooks are indicating a possible shift back to more chances of widespread rain.
