Northwest Iowa Crop Conditions

Our weather continues to be comfortable for people and non-stressful to crops. However, if the cool trend continues we could fall behind developmentally and risk an early killing frost. July was drier than normal, so a widespread rain would be helpful. I see very little stress form the dry weather so far. The crops generally look good.

Corn has completed pollination. The cool temperatures alleviated stress in dry areas and slowed down the pollination process which I believe helped the corn pollinate very successfully. We are seeing more disease on corn leaves. Some fields are being treated with a fungicide.

Soybeans are setting pods. They are generally smaller than normal, but that doesn’t mean they will yield less.August weather has a big impact on soybean yields. We are spraying some fields for aphids and plant disease.The markets seem to have found a bottom. They are overdue for a bounce, but have a limited upside as long as the weather is favorable to crops.