Southeast Iowa Crop Conditions

Average to below average temps and adequate soil moisture are abnormal for the second half of July but
are very welcome as our crops enter the critical reproduction stages.

Corn is mostly finishing pollination this week and will start filling kernels. Average or below temps(especially during the night time) are critical to producing more bushels during grain fill. Soil moisture is adequate and forecasts are continuing to show chances of showers for the remainder of July. Things are setting up very nicely to produce a good corn crop if the farm was able to avoid excessive flooding earlier in the season.

Soybeans are flowering and beginning to set pods in most areas. It is still too early to be too optimistic since August is the critical month for determining soybean yield. Same story as with corn; if you were able to avoid flooding, things are looking pretty good.

Grain markets are reflecting the above average looking crop. Hopefully we put in the bottom last week and are now headed back up after corn lost 60+ cents and soybeans were down over $2 per bushel from late May highs at one point.

Here is a picture of some impressive corn roots dug up in a field in Norther Cherokee County yesterday (7-17-18).