Fair weather moves harvest along

Graphs showing trends for Iowa's corn and soy production, based on 2022 harvest projections released Oct. 12. (Courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture)

DES MOINES — The latest crop progress and crop condition reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture paint the picture of a quick-moving harvest season.

“Harvest progressed quickly with farmers taking advantage of 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 9, 2022,” the crop progress report released Oct. 11 said. “Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, drilling cover crops, tillage, and applying fall fertilizer and manure.”

Much of the state, however, suffered some weather damage during the week.

“A late-week, strong, cold front ushered in Canadian air leading to widespread frost and the first killing freeze for much of Iowa,” State Climatologist Justin Glisan wrote in the week’s preliminary weather summary. “A shift to a southwesterly wind helped to keep overnight lows into Sunday (Oct. 9) at or above freezing for most Iowa stations with patchy cloud cover and frost in western Iowa.”

According the report, 92% of corn was in the mature stage or beyond, two days behind last year but five days ahead of the 5-year average. For soybeans, 93% were dropping leaves, five days behind last year but two days ahead of the 5-year average.

Farmers passed the halfway mark on soybeans last week, reaching 55% of total soy crops harvested in the state according to the report. Corn’s harvest progress was not mentioned in the document.

The USDA’s crop production forecast, released Oct. 12, said corn yield predictions had not changed since last month, expected to average 200 bushels per acre. Soybeans are projected to yield 58 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last month’s forecast. Those forecasts are based on conditions as of Oct. 1.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com