Corn and soybean harvests are almost finished
Iowa farmers have harvested almost all of the state’s soybeans. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch
November 13, 2023
Iowa’s soybean harvest is “nearly complete,” and about 94% of the state’s corn crop has been gathered from fields, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
That is nearly 10 days ahead of the five-year average for both crops, which matured more quickly this growing season because of drought and hot temperatures.
Last week was more of the same: The state averaged about seven degrees above normal and had almost no rain.
“The unseasonably warm and dry weather this past week offered Iowa farmers another suitable stretch to finish up harvest and tackle other farm work,” said Mike Naig, the state’s agriculture secretary.
If the corn harvest continues at last week’s pace, it will also be nearly complete by this week’s end.
Even though the percentage of unharvested corn is relatively small at 6%, that figure still represents a massive area because of the millions of acres that are planted each year in Iowa. About 750,000 acres were yet to be harvested at the start of this week.
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.
