Southeast Iowa Crop Conditions

Last week was a much welcome return to normal earl fall weather with highs in the mid 70’s and very little rainfall. Crops southeast of Storm Lake are maturing at about normal pace with early maturity soybeans turning yellow and dropping leaves.

Some corn fields are beginning to turn yellow as well, especially the lower leaves. Some of those fields are naturally maturing, while others are turning early from a variety of factors that include disease, wind and hail damage, nitrogen deficiency, and excessive moisture.

Cattle feeders were actively chopping silage last week as corn has reached the ideal moisture for them. Early indications of yields have been mixed.

Soybean harvest should begin in early maturing varieties as early as next week. Corn harvest will follow closely behind.

The USDA released their monthly production report on Friday, September 11th. They lowered the national corn yield by 1.3 bushels in corn to 167.5 bushels per acre. The soybean yield was surprisingly raised by .2 bushels per acre to 47.1. The markets responded positively and have continued the momentum into Monday morning. The picture on the right is a farm with cover crops (cereal rye grass) flown on one week prior to the picture.