– The final Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report of the 2017 growing season has been released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.
“Harvest season is now drawing to a close with 96 percent of corn now in the bin. The good weather this past week has also allowed farmers to do fall field work and other activities on the farm,” said Mike Naig, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. “Overall, many farmers have reported better than expected yields, despite the challenges of the growing season. Dry weather, particularly in southern Iowa, stressed crops and did negatively impact yields in some areas.”
Many Iowa farmers were able to wrap up their fall fieldwork with 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 26, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included harvesting, baling corn stalks, tiling, terracing, hauling and spreading manure, and applying fertilizers.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 4 percent very short, 14 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 7 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Corn for grain harvested was nearly complete at 96 percent, 8 days behind the 5-year average. Only southwest and south central Iowa have over 5 percent of their corn for grain crop remaining to be harvested. Moisture content of corn being harvested for grain averaged 17 percent.
Livestock conditions were reported as good with little stress. Cattle continued to graze in harvested corn and soybean fields with some hay starting to be fed.