According to the USDA’s latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, farmers are turning their attention to fall fieldwork now that nearly all the 2022 crop is out of the ground. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “A blast of cold air late last week dropped temperatures well below normal as the first flurries of the season flew over nearly fully harvested corn and soybean fields. Farmers are focused on finishing up fall field work before frost settles in as forecasts show colder conditions hanging around through the end of November.” Producers had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Nov. 13, and the bulk of that was wrapping up fall tillage, applying fertilizer, baling stalks, and spreading manure. Corn harvest reached 95 percent complete, eight days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the five-year average. The 2022 soybean harvest crossed the finish line and is now being reported as fully finished. The complete USDA Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
