According to the latest USDA Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, farmers made significant progress in the fields over the past week as this fall’s harvest moves full speed ahead. Producers had an average of 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 2. Activities included harvesting row crops, chopping silage, and some fourth hay cutting. Nearly all of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond with maturity now at 82 percent, one day behind last year but four days ahead of average. The corn harvest has reached 11 percent complete, four days behind last year and a day behind the norm. Corn condition ratings dropped to 61 percent good to excellent. Soybean harvest jumped to 26 percent complete, three days behind last year but a day ahead of average. About 80 percent of the crop was dropping leaves, three days behind last year but a day ahead of the five-year average. Soybean conditions fell slightly to 61 percent good to excellent. Short-term forecasts show limited chances for precipitation in Iowa, so farmers are expected to continue making good progress on the 2022 harvest in the coming week. The complete Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
