Barely any crops left in Iowa fields
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NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS
With combines back in the machine shed, cattle have been able to spread out in Iowa corn fields. Harvest moved along significantly faster than previous years this fall thanks to favorable conditions.
Iowa farmers have very little left to pick thanks to favorable harvest conditions that lasted most of the fall.
According to the latest crop progress report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, only 3 percent of the state's corn crop remains to be harvested, almost four weeks ahead of last year and just over two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Statewide, the moisture content of field corn remained at 15 percent. Farmers in northwest, north central and west central Iowa have less than 1 percent of their corn remaining to be harvested while farmers in south central Iowa still have 10 percent to be harvested.
"Overall, the weather this fall has been relatively favorable and harvest progress has been ahead compared to previous years," Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig said in the report. "Short-term outlooks indicate warmer and wetter conditions, which will be good for soil recharge for the next growing season."
Only 1 percent of Iowa's soybean crop remains to be harvested, more than two weeks ahead of last year and eight days ahead of average. Only scattered fields are left to be harvested.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 13 percent very short, 29 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 21 percent very short, 34 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.
Livestock producers continue to allow cattle to graze on corn stalks.
