Iowa?s corn and soybean harvest continues to progress well ahead of the average pace.
The weekly Crop Progress and Conditions Report on Monday showed Iowa?s corn harvest is 43 percent complete, one week ahead of the five-year average. Despite rain showers, soybeans harvested reached 70%, also one week ahead of normal.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey takes a look at the national corn harvest figures.
?The U.S. harvest is past the halfway mark despite a slowdown in overall harvest activity, reaching 52% by the 17th of October,? said Rippey. ?That does remain ahead of the five-year average of 41%, but behind last year?s 57%.?
Rippey notes corn conditions were nearly unchanged week-to-week across the country.
?It?s showing the crop ending the year at 60% good to excellent, same as last week,? said Rippey. ?It was 14% very poor to poor, a one-point improvement from last week. That leaves this year?s corn crop very similar to how we ended the 2020 season.?
And, Rippey talks about the national soybean harvest progress.
?We saw an advance of 11 percentage points during the week to reach 60% harvested overall,? said Rippey. ?That is enough to remain ahead of the five-year average of 55%, but we?ve fallen pretty far behind last year?s progress.?
This week?s report showed Iowa?s topsoil moisture levels rated 8 percent very short, 34 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 16 percent very short, 38 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.
Pasture condition rated 30 percent good to excellent. No unusual conditions for livestock were reported. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said weather outlooks are hinting at better rain chances through the end of the month.
