March 28, 2024

Despite the dry weather, harvest is doing well

For all the attention this summer had for being dry, there was still enough rain to make area, and much of Iowa’s corn and soybean crops worth pursuing.

“Look at Creston, it may have had a little better luck with those rains,” said Drey LyBarger, a manager at Gavilon Grain in Creston. “You go closer to Winterset and I-80, it was tougher.”

Even with some rain in the Creston area this week, LyBarger said harvest is progressing well.

“We’re probably at the 50% mark with beans, which is good for Oct. 15 with some rain this week. Yields have been phenomenal,” he said.

LyBarger said corn is about 20 percent done.

Knowing how dry of a growing season it was, LyBarger said the crop numbers are comfortable and gives much credit to corn genetics.

As October progresses, the odds of a freeze increase. LyBarger said the concern is to get soybeans finished to prevent any long-lasting freeze to damage the pods.

According to the Iowa Soybean Association on Monday, the USDA expects a 611-million-bushel soybean crop in Iowa — a record for soybean production.

In its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Iowa soybean production is forecast at 61 bushels/acre, up 2 bushels/acre from the Sept. 1 forecast and 7 bushels/acre from 2020.

USDA expects 10 million acres of soybeans to be harvested in Iowa this year.

More than half (56%) of Iowa’s soybean crop had been harvested as of Oct. 10, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) said in its crop progress report earlier this week. Harvest progress is 9 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 63% good to excellent in the report.

Various Iowa soybean farmers are reporting larger-than-expected crops.

“We’ve gotten a few lucky late-season rains that made a big difference,” said ISA Director of Market Development Grant Kimberley, who farms near Maxwell.

He says improved genetics and better management have also attributed to increasing soybean yields.

“Ultimately, though, we’ve gotten lucky this past year to get a few just-in-time rains in August,” he said.

According to United States Department of Agriculture, scattered precipitation slowed harvest in some areas the past seven days, but statewide Iowa’s farmers had five days suitable for fieldwork ending Oct. 10, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Field activities included harvesting soybeans and corn, fall tillage and applying fertilizer. Topsoil moisture levels rated 12 percent very short, 31 percent short, 55 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 18 percent very short, 36 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop has reached maturity, eight days ahead of the 5-year average. Close to one-third of corn for grain has been harvested at 30 percent complete statewide, also eight days ahead of normal. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 19 percent. Iowa’s corn condition rated 62 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond reached 96 percent, one week ahead of normal. More than half of Iowa’s soybean crop has been harvested at 56 percent, 9 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 63 percent good to excellent.


John Van Nostrand

JOHN VAN NOSTRAND

An Iowa native, John's newspaper career has mostly been in small-town weeklies from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. He first stint in Creston was from 2002 to 2005.