Iowa farmers had another good week for harvesting with 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 4, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Activities for the week included harvesting corn and soybeans, baling stalks, anhydrous and manure application, fall tillage, tile repair, and planting cover crops.Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 28 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus.
Seventy-two percent of the State’s corn for grain crop has been harvested, 3 days ahead of last year but 1 day behind the five-year average. Farmers in central Iowa have harvested 80 percent of their corn for grain while farmers in the southwest have 45 percent of their corn for grain remaining to be harvested. Moisture content of field corn being harvested averaged 17 percent. Soybean harvest was 88 percent complete, 2 days behind last year and 6 days behind the average.
Recent rains have left some feedlot cattle stressed with standing water and muddy conditions, while others reported livestock conditions as very good.