Statewide Iowa — Rain kept some farmers out of the fields at a key time last week as they tried to get the harvest completed.
According to the latest USDA crop progress report, Iowa farmers only had about four days suitable for fieldwork last week. Fewer than four days were suitable in northwest Iowa.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says with the continued drought this year, the rain created some mixed reactions.
Naig says the timing of the rain is something that was key for those farmers seeing good yields.
Corn harvested for grain in Iowa moved from 30 to 42 percent. 40 percent of northwest Iowa corn has been harvested.
Soybeans harvested moved from 52 to 74 percent. 86 percent of northwest Iowa soybeans have been harvested.
Naig says the rain last week may have been a nuisance for some, but it is important for next year.
In northwest Iowa, 32 percent of topsoil is either short or very short of moisture, down from 57 percent in last week’s report. 60 percent of northwest Iowa subsoil is either short or very short of moisture, a drop from 69 percent the week before.
Courtesy Community First Broadcasting station KAYL in Storm Lake and Radio Iowa
