Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.
“The first snowflakes of the season flew late last week, and soybean harvest is now 97 percent complete,” said Secretary Naig. “With less than 10 percent of corn left in the fields, the weather outlooks indicate cooler than average temperatures and below-normal precipitation chances.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Variable precipitation slowed harvest activities in parts of Iowa, allowing farmers 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 14, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting, baling corn stalks, applying fertilizer and anhydrous, and fall tillage.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 6 percent very short, 25 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Precipitation this week helped improve soil moisture levels slightly.
Ninety-one percent of Iowa’s corn for grain has been harvested, 4 days ahead of the five-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 17 percent. Farmers in south central Iowa have over 20 percent of their corn for grain yet to harvest.
Iowa’s soybean crop harvest is virtually complete at 97 percent.
No issues with livestock were reported. Some cattle have been put out on corn stalks.