Southwest Iowa Crop Conditions

Southwest of Storm Lake

Counties of: Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Monona, Crawford, Harrison, Shelby

April 17, 2023

Past Weeks Rainfall: A few tenths over this past weekend.

Soil Moisture: Topsoil remains dry. 49% of the West-central district (9 counties) remain short to very short of topsoil moisture. Subsoil is 72% short to very short. Most of this area is in D2 (severe) drought.

Temperature: Highs ranging from 40’s to 60’s. Warm next week. Lows in 30’s and 40’s.

Crop Progress: Good progress last week, beginning the day after Easter.

Corn

Crop Stage: Iowa Ag Stats reports 9% of the corn is planted.

Yield Potential: Trend-line

Soybean

Crop Stage: No statistical reporting, but a good amount of beans were also planted.

Yield Potential: Trend-line

Corn Market

Current Prices: $6.96/bu

Fall Prices: $5.32/bu

Past Weeks Trend: Slight uptrend

Soybean Market

Current Prices: $14.79/bu

Fall Prices: $12.51/bu

Past Weeks Trend: Slight uptrend

Comments:

Dennis Reyman AFM, ARA

By observation and by anecdote, planting progress may be more than what is reported by the statistical service. Soil conditions are good although the 4th soil temperature dropped from the 60’s to below 50 over the weekend. A few tenths of rain over the weekend was not enough to do much but settle the dust a bit. Spring has always been noted for windy days, but it seems to have gotten out of hand in the past decade. Sunday (16th) featured gusts up to 60 mph. Other days have had 40-50 mph winds.

Grain markets are trying to regain their earlier highs. Corn needs another 10-15 cents to accomplish that. Beans need another 25 cents (cash, not CME). Basis (especially for corn) continues to tighten which is positive for old-crop prices.

We are in the “slow season” for land sales. Activity continues to show a fairly steady market.

Congratulations to Volkert Family Farms of Holstein, recognized last week with Iowa’s Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award. Well deserved!

Crop Update Achives

Please click on the links on the right to view the past pdf’s of our Southwest Crop Conditions reports.