According to the USDA’s weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report, farmers had 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 28. The favorable conditions advanced crop maturity and supported corn and soybean harvest.
Eighty percent of Iowa’s corn crop has matured, with 15 percent harvested, ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Soybeans are also maturing quickly, with 83 percent dropping leaves and 17 percent harvested. Both crops are rated mostly fair to good condition statewide.
Pastures are also holding steady, with 53 percent rated good to excellent.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather summary reported temperatures averaging more than eight degrees above normal and below-average rainfall across much of the state. Some areas saw severe thunderstorms earlier in the week, with hail up to two inches reported in O’Brien County and rainfall totals topping two inches in Dubuque and Jefferson.
