Iowa Harvest Advances as Warm Dry Weather Supports Fieldwork

By Andi Anderson

Iowa farmers benefited from warm and mostly dry weather during the week ending October 25, 2026, allowing significant progress in harvest operations and other field activities. According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, growers had an average of 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the reporting period.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig highlighted the positive impact of the favorable weather on harvesting efforts while also encouraging farmers to follow nutrient management best practices.

“Warm, mostly dry weather kept combines rolling and helped farmers make significant harvest progress last week,” said Secretary Naig. “Iowa has experienced unseasonably warm temperatures this fall. As farmers continue fall field work, it’s important to time nutrient applications based on '50-and-falling' best practices instead of dates on the calendar, especially with a warmer and wetter weather pattern setting up as we head into November.”

Crop conditions across Iowa remained generally favorable. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions were also strong, with 7 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. These moisture levels helped support crop health and field operations throughout the state.

Corn harvest activity continued to increase, with 47 percent of the crop harvested by the end of the week. While harvest progress remained 20 percentage points behind the five-year average, crop quality stayed strong, with 73 percent of Iowa’s corn rated good to excellent.

Soybean harvest also moved forward steadily. Farmers had harvested 78 percent of the soybean crop, which was 6 percentage points below the five-year average. Despite the slightly slower pace, favorable weather conditions allowed growers to continue making progress in the fields.

Pasture conditions remained healthy, with 69 percent rated good to excellent, providing positive conditions for livestock producers across the state.

The weather pattern throughout the week featured above-normal temperatures and limited rainfall. Much of Iowa experienced sunny and warm conditions, with temperatures frequently reaching the 60s and 70s. Northern Iowa recorded temperature departures approaching 15 degrees above normal, while the statewide average temperature was 59.7 degrees, or 5.4 degrees above average for the period.

Rainfall was limited and scattered across the state. Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no measurable rainfall at many locations to 0.43 inch in Sheldon. The statewide average precipitation measured only 0.02 inch, well below the normal weekly average of 0.60 inch.

Weather records showed the week's highest temperature of 81 degrees at Sioux City Airport on October 22, while the lowest temperature was 27 degrees at Little Sioux on October 19.

Photo Credit: getty-images-elhenyo