Iowa farmers crept closer to the end of the 2023 harvest season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Crop Progress and Condition Report. Producers had six days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 5, which included harvesting corn and soybeans, fall tillage, applying fertilizer, baling stalks, and hauling manure. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “Corn and soybean harvest is beginning to wind down thanks to more agreeable weather, though there is still plenty of farm and field work left to finish up yet this fall. While statewide drought remains a concern heading into the 2024 growing season, the bursts of October rain helped improve soil moisture in parts of northwestern and eastern Iowa.” Corn harvested for grain reached 89 percent, a day ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. Moisture content for harvested corn measured 16 percent. The soybean harvest pushed to 97 percent complete, even with the previous year but nine days ahead of the five-year average. Topsoil moisture conditions in the state were 55 percent short to very short, 44 percent adequate, and one percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions registered 70 percent short to very short, 29 percent adequate, and one percent surplus. The complete report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
