Row crop harvest was winding down ahead of normal as Iowa's farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, completing fall tillage, applying fall fertilizer, baling stalks, and hauling manure. Field fires were reported again in some areas with continued dry conditions.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 24 percent very short, 44 percent short, 32 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 26 percent very short, 45 percent short, 29 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.
Harvest of the corn for grain crop reached 77 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of the average. Corn harvest in northeast and south central Iowa continued to lag behind with 58 and 59 percent complete, respectively, while 95 percent has been harvested in northwest Iowa. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 17 percent. Soybeans harvested reached 94 percent complete, 1 week ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Southwest and south central Iowa producers still had over 15 percent of their soybean crop left to harvest.
Pasture condition rated 25 percent good to excellent. Dry conditions were an issue for cattle and many producers were moving them off pasture.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said, "The widespread and badly needed rain during the last week did very little to slow down corn and soybean harvest, which continues at a pace well ahead of the five-year average. Though the recent warmer weather has been good for both trick-or-treating and field work, a wetter forecast looks possible for the end of this week and through early November."
Categories: Iowa, Harvesting