Crop Progress: Iowa crops continue push toward maturity

by | Sep 21, 2021 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Producers have started harvesting corn all across Iowa and the weekly Crop Progress Report says half of the state?s corn crop has reached maturity.

Monday?s report said the recent warm and windy weather helped crops dry down and push toward maturity during the week ending September 19th. Corn in or beyond the dent stage reached 93%, four days ahead of the 5-year average. Iowa?s corn condition rated 58% good to excellent.

USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey talks about corn harvest progress around the country.

?The corn harvest is ahead of schedule,? said Rippey. ?We see one-tenth of the US corn crop harvested by September 19th. Five-year average is 9 percent. A year ago, we were at 8 percent. Last week, we were a little behind schedule, but now as harvest begins to move up through the heart of the Midwest, we?re seeing that progress accelerate.?

Iowa soybeans coloring or beyond reached 86%, four days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 53%, three days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent. The report indicated soybean harvest began in parts of Iowa last week.

Rippey says there are several reasons for accelerated soybean crop progress.

?Each of the last two week?s we?ve seen 20% of the US crop dropping leaves, and over the last three weeks 49% of the crop has dropped leaves,? said Rippey. ?Very accelerated progress this year. Partly due to drought in the Upper Midwest and then partly just to early planting that has led to the crop finishing up earlier than usual.?

Also on this week?s Crop Progress Report, Iowa?s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 97% complete. Some farmers were working on the fourth and ? in some areas ? the fifth cutting of hay. Pasture condition was rated 29% good to excellent. In general, livestock were doing well.