According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), only a handful of acres remain to be harvested. Iowa farmers had 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 3, which consisted primarily of harvesting what remained of corn and soybeans, completing fall tillage, and applying fall fertilizer and manure. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “After a long stretch of dry conditions that allowed harvest to proceed without much interruption, measurable rainfall finally arrived last week and stayed through the weekend in much of the state. For Iowa farmers still finishing harvest and other field work, the moisture may temporarily delay progress. However, it will also provide the added benefits of reducing dust, decreasing fire risk, and helping to replenish our dry soils, waterways, and pastures.” The soybean harvest is essentially complete, while only eight percent of the corn crop remains in the field, six days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Much-needed precipitation throughout the state significantly improved the dry conditions. Topsoil moisture rated 59 percent short to very short, 39 percent adequate, and two percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions measured 69 percent short to very short, 31 percent adequate, and zero percent surplus. Find this week’s complete report online at www.nass.usda.gov.
