Farmers across the state are making steady harvest progress as dry conditions continue and the first hard freeze of the season hits the area. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the dry weather has allowed many farmers to finish soybeans and move quickly through corn harvest.
State Climatologist Justin Glisan reports that statewide temperatures averaged around 50 degrees last week—right on par for late October—but conditions remained much drier than normal. Here in Hampton, overnight lows dipped to 28 degrees twice last week, marking the area’s first hard freeze and officially ending the growing season.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said farmers are taking advantage of the favorable weather, and though a few light showers are possible this week, any pause in fieldwork should be short-lived. Warmer, drier weather is expected to return as November begins.
