(Harvested Corn - KIWA Staff Photo)Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Rainy weather slowed harvest progress across Iowa during the first full week of November, limiting farmers to fewer than two days suitable for fieldwork.
According to the latest USDA Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, 72% of Iowa’s corn crop had been harvested as of Nov. 8th. That’s up from 66% the previous week but remains 17 percentage points behind the five-year average.
Soybean harvest is nearing completion, reaching 93% statewide. That’s up three percentage points from the week before and sits two percentage points behind the five-year average.
Farmers had just 1.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the reporting period, down sharply from 5.1 days the previous week.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said a wet start to November slowed harvest operations, but drier conditions over the weekend allowed combines to return to the fields. Naig said soybean harvest is nearly finished and farmers continue to make steady progress on corn, adding that a favorable forecast should provide an opportunity for a strong harvest push.
In northwest Iowa, Sioux City Airport recorded the state’s highest temperature of the week at 71 degrees on Nov. 2nd, which was 17 degrees above normal.
State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported Iowa’s average temperature for the week was 49.5 degrees, nearly eight degrees above normal. Northern Iowa experienced the greatest departures from normal temperatures.
Statewide precipitation averaged 1.47 inches, more than three times the normal amount for the week. Some areas received more than a month’s worth of rainfall.
The report also showed increasing soil moisture levels. 27% of Iowa’s topsoil was rated surplus, while 71% was considered adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 18% surplus and 77% adequate.
The report covers conditions from Nov. 2nd through Nov. 8th. Harvest and soil moisture figures are statewide.
