(Des Moines, IA) -- Harvest is weeks ahead of schedule in Iowa. Iowa farmers have now harvested more than half of the state's soybean crop, and 25-percent of the corn crop.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the weather should be ideal for farmers with warm, dry conditions this month. He reminds farmers to be mindful of the risk of fire and continue to make safety a top priority.
The USDA report finds corn has reached 92% mature or beyond, almost 3 weeks ahead of the previous year and 10 days ahead of the 5-year average.
This is only the second time since 2000 that at least one-quarter of the corn for grain crop was harvested by October 4. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 20 percent. Corn condition rated 45% good to excellent.
Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond reached 93%, just over 2 weeks ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of average. One-quarter of Iowa’s soybean crop was harvested during the week ending October 4 with 55% now harvested. This is the second time in the last 15 years that at least half of the soybean crop was harvested by October 4. Soybean condition rated 49% good to excellent.
The weekly USDA report finds Iowa's topsoil moisture condition rated 14% very short, 31% short, 55% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 20% very short, 32% short, 48% adequate and 0% surplus.