While warmer than average temperatures continued throughout a portion of the state over the past week, the first sub-freezing temperatures were reported in portions of northern Iowa. According to the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending Oct. 17, farmers were limited to just 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork due to scattered showers. “Widespread rain also fell across the state as harvest progressed at a rapid pace,” says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig. “Outlooks hint at better rain chances through the end of the month.” Thanks to those rains, the average topsoil moisture for the state dropped to 42 percent short to very short and subsoil is at 54 percent short to very short. Virtually all of Iowa’s corn crop has reached maturity with 43 percent harvested, one week ahead of the five-year average. Moisture is averaging around 18 percent with the crop rated 63 percent good to excellent. Soybean harvest has reached 70 percent completion, also one week ahead of the average. The full report can be found at nass.usda.gov.
