Snowfall hampers an already late crop harvest

Posted 11/8/19

Last week’s snowfall threw a curveball to farmers who were already behind getting in their crops.

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Snowfall hampers an already late crop harvest

Posted

Last week’s snowfall threw a curveball to farmers who were already behind getting in their crops.

“This week brought the first measureable snowfall of the season, which added even more moisture to already wet soil and continued to prevent corn from drying down in the fields,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Parts of the state made significant progress and are getting close to finishing up their soybeans.”

The state is also dealing with a propane shortage.

“We’re hearing reports of propane shortages across the state,” said Naig. “I’m working with Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Propane Gas Association to monitor the situation. The emergency proclamation extending driving hours will help alleviate the delivery issues and supplies will increase as some farmers start wrapping up harvest.”

Iowa farmers continued to deal with challenging field conditions as the first accumulating snowfall of the year fell across parts of the state during the week ending Nov. 3, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Statewide there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Fieldwork activities included harvesting soybeans and corn for grain, spreading manure, applying anhydrous, baling corn stalks and fall tillage.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0% very short, 1% short, 81% adequate and 18% surplus.

Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0% very short, 2% short, 81% adequate and 17% surplus.

Forty-three percent of the corn crop has been harvested for grain, eight days behind last year and 11 days behind the five-year average.

Producers in the north central district were able to harvest over one quarter of their expected crop this past week.

Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 21%. Corn condition rated 67% good to excellent.

Eighty percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, three days behind last year and one week behind average.