The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released the 2017 corn for grain and soybean for grain estimates. USDA’s NASS Iowa Office reports Iowa fared well, achieving near-recording breaking corn and soybean yields in 2017.
Mike Naig serves as Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Naig says Iowa farmers harvested higher than expected yields despite challenging weather.
?Challenging weather throughout the growing season, yet – with the USDA report looking back at 2017 – we had over 200 bushel yield averages on corn, 202 bushel yield averages, and 56.5 bushel yield averages on soybeans,? Naig said.
Iowa recorded its second largest crop for both corn and soybeans. Naig attributes many pieces to this achievement.
?I think it?s everything from the genetics and traits in the seeds, equipment we use, the way farmers care for the crop, and the way they scout crops and do nutrient management,? Naig said. ?All of those things contribute to creating resilient yield.?
Naig says it is important to secure additional domestic and international markets moving forward. He notes Iowans cannot hold onto their near-recording breaking and need to send them to be housed elsewhere.
?Making sure we have a strong and growing renewable fuels sector, both ethanol and biodiesel is very important – as a user of those corn and soybean crops,? Naig said. ?As we think about trade, this is why it?s important to have NAFTA negotiations conclude in a way that?s favorable to agriculture. It?s why we need to be looking across the Asia Pacific-Rim and doing some bilateral trade agreements with those countries.?
