Northeast Iowa Crop Conditions

Warm weather over the last 2 weeks has most feeling better about crop conditions. Both corn and soybeans are growing rapidly. We are still well behind normal growing degree accumulation,and the earliest planted corn in the area is at least 10 days away from silking vs last year when quite a bit of corn was in that stage shortly after the 4 of July. Soybean height is determined by day length, and with the days already getting shorter, we will have a shorter plant this year. This does not necessarily translate into lower yields, but will probably cause more weed issues later in the season because the rows won’t close in and shade cut weeds as well. Post applied herbicide spraying will be wrapping up shortly on the soybeans.

The grain markets remain volatile, and we expect that to continue. It is very hard to get a handle on how many acres were planted, will be harvested, and at what yield level given the unprecedented challenges we saw in planting the crops over a wide area this spring. Crop ratings are starting out at low levels, but will probably improve with warm weather and rapid
crop growth over the next few weeks. However, damage has been done already to yield prospects, and the weather over the next 3 months will determine how much of remaining potential can be preserved.