(State News/Iowa Capital Dispatch)  – Crop conditions for corn, soybeans and pasture are far better than conditions from this time last year, with over 75% of corn and soybeans and 63% of pasture rated as good or excellent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress and condition report for the state.  Only 44-46% of corn and soybeans and 15% of pasture cropland rated good or excellent this time last year. Nearly all corn has reached the dough stage or beyond. The percentage of mature corn in the state doubled from 10% last week, setting it four days behind last year, but only one day behind the five-year average.

Soybeans are similarly maturing, with 95% setting pods and nearly 9% dropping leaves. Like this year’s corn, soybeans lag four days behind last year’s crops.  A report from USDA in August forecasted corn yields for the state would be up eight bushels per acre from last year, soybean yields would improve by three bushels per acre.  In preparation for harvest season, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation on Monday waiving the need for a permit on overweight trucks bearing agricultural products.

More than 40% of the state, primarily in northern and western Iowa, is in abnormally dry conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but the state’s crop progress report shows that around 70% of topsoil and subsoil moisture is adequate.  Statewide average temperatures the past week were 6.3 degrees below normal, with north eastern regions of the state seeing some overnight lows in the upper 30s, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan.

A farmer harvests soybeans in western Iowa in early October 2023. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The lower temperatures also gave farmers 6.4 suitable days for field work such as cutting hay and chopping corn silage.