Southwest Iowa Crop Conditions

Southwest of Storm Lake

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

May 20, 2024

Past Weeks Rainfall: Several smaller rains

Soil Moisture: 79% of topsoil is adequate, 14% is surplus, 68% of subsoil is adequate, 9% is surplus,18% short, Little Sioux River reached its highest crest in 5 years on May 11th

Temperature: 70’s highs, 50’s lows, Growing degree days (heat unit accumulation) is about normal

Crop Progress: Corn is 83% planted, beans are 64% planted

Corn

Crop Stage: Earliest corn is 3-4″, some still emerging

Yield Potential: Average or better

Soybean

Crop Stage: Earliest beans are 1″ and leafed out, most not emerged

Yield Potential: Average or better

Corn Market

Current Prices: $4.53/bu

Fall Prices: $4.46/bu

Past Weeks Trend: Choppy but mostly sideways

Soybean Market

Current Prices: $11.88/bu

Fall Prices: $11.47/bu

Past Weeks Trend: Choppy but mostly sideways

Comments:

Dennis Reyman AFM, ARA

(Photo above) Corn field planted April 13, 2024 (picture taken May 20, 2024)

Corn is mostly planted and emerged; however, wet areas are struggling with emergence. Stands look good for most fields. Washing occurred from heavy rains, depending on the extent of tillage. Beans are over half planted and the earliest fields have emerged. Stands are very good. Quality drainage systems have really paid in field readiness and crop stress at emergence this spring.

Corn and bean prices both rose in April and peaked (so far) in early May. Both have chopped pretty much sideways since then, but beans closed today at their highest price in several months.

We are in the seasonal time of price volatility. Over the long run, highest prices of the year occur between May and mid-July about half the time. Corn is currently in the upper end of its post-harvest price range. Beans are sitting about midway in its post-harvest price range so far. Stay alert, as price rallies will most likely come and go quickly.

Crop Update Achives

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