Northeast Iowa Crop Conditions

Weather continues to be good for corn pollination and early soybean pod set. While temperatures have been warm they have mostly stayed in the upper 80’s, limiting crop stress. There are some areas of top soil that are becoming dry,although subsoil moisture is still adequate in most areas. A rain in the Northern areas on Saturday night and another light rain this morning will help carry us through pollination.Disease worries are beginning and many fungicide applications have commenced. No large concerns have been found yet, but we are on the look out in every farm we visit.

The grain markets have moved sharply lower in response to the relief of constant precipitation in the eastern corn belt. At the same time, the western corn belt has received some timely rains. While damage has been done in the East, it will not be until harvest that any actual effects of the damage are realized. Meanwhile, we have the crucial month of august to go through, so the weather story likely is not done yet.