Northeast Iowa Crop Conditions

After a full summer of getting just enough rain to get by (in some areas not enough) Northwest Iowa has finally started to receive good rains over the last 10 days. Most areas have received 3 to 4 inches, but a very heavy band of over 6 inches fell in southern Emmet County last week, which also happened to be one of the driest areas throughout this summer. The rain came at a critical time as August had been very dry up to that point. Looking back to July, mostly moderate temperatures and sporadic rains had allowed the corn crop to pollinate successfully. In most fields ear size is adequate, except for the driest areas of Emmet and Northern Palo Alto counties and on lighter soil types. The question will be whether the dry first half of August took away kernel size that will reduce yield potential. We will now have adequate moisture to finish out the crop in good shape.

On soybeans, the moisture could not have come at a better time. While most plants will not add pods at this late point of the season, most were still dark green and will add to bean size which is important to final yield. As in corn, we will have enough moisture to finish the growing season.

Grain markets have been trading on weather throughout the summer, but will now start to focus on yield prospects, exports and South American planting conditions. The general consensus is for national yields of 50-51 bu/ac on soybeans and 174-177 bu/ac on corn. Both of these yields will be very good, but not quite records. The eastern Corn Belt will likely have record yields this year, but the drought in the Northwest will bring yields down.