IARN — Several rounds of steady rain slowed harvest progress in Iowa during the week ending October 31st.
The weekly Crop Progress and Conditions Report on Monday showed Iowa’s corn harvest has reached 70% completion, four days ahead of the five-year average. There were scattered reports of downed corn due to strong winds. The soybean harvest reached 88%, two days ahead of the average pace.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says unfavorable weather conditions have also slowed corn harvest progress throughout the rest of the country.
“There was only an 8-percentage point advance during the week ending October 31st,” said Rippey. “The national harvest now reaching 74% overall. That’s still sufficient to stay ahead of the five-year average of 66%, but we’re falling further behind last year’s harvest progress.”
Rippey says it’s a similar story for national soybean harvest progress. In fact, the U.S. soybean harvest progress has now fallen behind the five-year average.
“Nationally, just 6 percent of the soybeans harvested during the week,” said Rippey. “That is compared to 13 percent a week ago, so less than half of the previous week. That has left the national harvest number by October 31st at just 79%, which for the first time this season has fallen behind the five-year average.”
Also in this week’s report, topsoil moisture levels in Iowa rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 8 percent very short, 27 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. The week’s precipitation helped replenish soil moisture. Eighty-six percent of the State’s topsoil moisture was rated adequate to surplus; the highest percentage of the season.
Pasture condition rated 31 percent good to excellent. No issues with livestock were reported this week.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
