Harvest Ahead of Schedule for Northeast Iowa Farmers

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report was not available from the USDA due to the federal government shutdown – but Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says the corn and soybean harvest is in full swing, thanks to the recent stretch of warm and dry weather. 

And that’s exactly what we’ve been hearing from our local farmers during our “KMCH, Bring Me My Lunch” deliveries this past week. Jeff Thier of Worthington told us last Tuesday that they were running way ahead of schedule. 

Randy Mormann, who farms southwest of Manchester, experienced a first this year.

We made a visit to Larry Maiers near Earlville last Thursday.

Curt Bockenstedt near Strawberry Point told us the harvest has been going pretty good this fall.

It hit 90 degrees when we delivered lunch to Bockenstedt on Friday – and that came in the midst of an eleven-day stretch of highs well above 80.

The heat finally broke on Monday, with rain and cooler weather moving in. But Marty Pottebaum, who farms with his dad near Earlville, told us that wouldn’t slow them down too much.

Secretary Naig says showers early in the week may temporarily park some combines, but he points out that most farmers welcome the moisture to reduce the dust and fire risks. With forecasts indicating a gradual warm-up this week and above-average temperatures expected to continue through mid-October, Naig says we can expect the harvest to move along at a good pace.

photo courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH