The plumes of dust rising from local fields haven't settled in recent weeks thanks to dry conditions that have allowed farmers to harvest at breakneck pace.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, one-quarter of the corn for grain in the state had been harvested Oct. 4, more than three weeks ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of average. This marked only the second time since 2000 that at least one-quarter of the corn for grain crop was harvested by that date.

Soybeans are going out fast as well. One-quarter of the state's crop was harvested during the week e...