Northwest Iowa Crop Conditions

Last week was hot, and we had very little new rain. There seemed to be enough reserve soil moisture to maintain
the crops. This next week should be much nicer. Generally crops are in good condition around NW Iowa.

Corn will finish pollinating over the next week or so in good shape. Most corn looks very good, but we need to
remember the variable stands caused by tough planting season. It’s hard to estimate what kind of yield penalty
goes along with uneven corn. The corn that emerges more than a week behind is often like a weed competing
with the good corn. The crop is far from finished, the grain fill period is next. Stress at that time will cause kernel abortion, shallow kernels, and low test weight.

Soybeans are blooming now, and they will start making pods soon. Many fields will be sprayed for aphids or leaf
disease soon. They have grown a lot over the past two weeks. Rain in August will be very important to soybean
yields.