Iowa farmers face wetter weather while harvest lags

DES MOINES, Iowa, Iowa farmers completed 47 percent of their corn harvest and 78 percent of their soybean harvest as of Sunday, Oct. 25, according to the USDA crop progress report. Both crops are behind the five-year average for this time of year.

Corn harvest stands 20 percentage points behind the average, while soybeans are six percentage points behind. The report rates 73 percent of the corn crop in good to excellent condition. Pasture condition is rated at 69 percent good to excellent.

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig attributed the progress to warm, mostly dry weather last week. He noted that Iowa experienced unseasonably warm temperatures throughout the fall. Naig warned that a warmer and wetter weather pattern is expected as the state enters November.

Naig advised farmers to base nutrient applications on soil temperature rather than calendar dates. He referenced the “50-and-falling” best practice, which suggests applying nutrients when soil temperatures drop below 50 degrees. This approach helps prevent nutrient loss during periods of increased moisture.

The state’s climatologist, Justin Glisan, reported that Iowa averaged 59.7 degrees during the reporting period. This was 5.4 degrees above the normal average. Northern Iowa saw temperatures nearly 15 degrees above normal. Rainfall was limited to portions of northwest and southwest Iowa.

Soil moisture conditions remained favorable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 81 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 79 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Only 6 percent of topsoil and 7 percent of subsoil were rated short.

Farmers had 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 25. The USDA releases this report weekly from April through November. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a corresponding weather summary during this period.