Way ahead on harvest progress, at least for corn here in the state of Iowa. Soybeans, well that’s a different story so check out these numbers per the weekly report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Office, where the statistician is Brian Gallagher.
“Corn harvested for grain reached 16% statewide, four days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain reached 20%.”
Overall, corn maturity has reached 92%, that’s eight days they had a last year and 13 days ahead of the five-year average. So certainly lots of corn is ripe as are the soybeans although harvest there is progressing at more of a normal pace.
“Soybean condition improved two percentage points to 49% good to excellent. Soybean harvested reached 24%, one day ahead of last year but equal to the average.”
They’re ripening quickly as soybeans dropping leaves came in at 87%. That’s five days ahead of last year and the five-year average. Of course, concern remains about moisture, even with some rains falling and the percentage of the state that’s in the drought dropping a little bit according to USDA.
“Top soil moisture condition rated 28% very short, 45% short, 26% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 36% very short, 43% short, 20% adequate and 1% surplus.”
Now interestingly enough from a national perspective, soybeans harvested in U.S. key growing regions is at 23%, a percentage point higher than the five-year average so Iowa is right in line with the national number. As far as corn goes, however, we see that 23% of the corn has been harvested in those key growing regions compared with a 21% five-year average so Iowa is just a touch bit behind.
