Northeast Iowa Crop Conditions

We have had a welcome respite from typical late July/early August heat and humidity over the last 10 days with highs in the 70’s and very cool nights. Unfortunately, we have not had much rain to go with the nice temperatures. Rain has been spotty, with most areas getting very little. The map below shows the latest Drought Monitor released yesterday. The driest areas are south of us, but we are starting to see the effects of the very dry period as well. Lighter soil spots, and end rows where soil compaction is more likely are lighter color, with corn leaves rolled tight and smaller ears. The soybeans also are shorter and lighter in these problem areas. In most places, things still look quite good. The picture below shows typical ears from heavy soil in the middle of a field.Pollination went well, and ear size is good. Over the next month the kernel size will be determined. We will need some more moisture to take advantage of the good start, and yield will start to slip away soon if we don’t. Soybeans are in a critical stage as well. Like corn, we had a very good start with healthy plants and not many drowned out spots. We will start to lose yield potential soon, however, if we don’t get some moisture to build bean size in existing pods, and continue to develop pods still forming at the top of the plant.

Grain markets have worked lower. Early yield estimate from major grain companies are starting to come out, and national yields are expected above trend line at 180 bu/acre+ for corn and 52 bu/acre+ for soybeans. Most areas of the Corn Belt had a decent month for rainfall, and some areas are looking at record yield potential. It’s painful to be in an area missing those rains, but almost every year there are problem spots, and it looks like 2020 may be our turn. On the plus side, exports have been very good recently, with China being a strong buyer of both corn and soybeans.