The weather has been near perfect for getting the harvest rolling in the state of Iowa. Corn and soybeans both are coming out of the fields and heading into bins and elevators around the region. However, the weather conditions have given us an interesting situation as we head into the fall. Speculation is no longer allowed, it’s all down to facts as we get those crops out. The West has been dry, and the east has been wet. Were those late crops able to withstand the drought because of the wet soil? Now is when we’re going to find out.
We had the chance to talk with Iowa agriculture secretary Mike Naig. The secretary talked about what he expects to see, and what he is also hearing from farmers as they get the combines rolling.
Secretary Naig adds that as concerning as the late start seemed to be earlier this spring, it is giving him hope as we get into the harvest season. This means some of those crops could have weathered the drought better than those that got in early.
Naig jokingly agreed with me when I said that sometimes it’s easier to get Chinese nuclear secrets than it is to get yield results from a farmer. (I am being facetious.) Farmers are usually pretty closely guarded about what they’re getting out of the field until those yield monitors show some good numbers. Then suddenly the cameras come out and they hit social media or text inboxes.
Above all else, the secretary reminds farmers that no matter what the conditions are or what the yields are, safety is paramount to the whole harvest season around the state.
