Counties of: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux
Rainfall has returned to NW Iowa! Much of this area received at least 4 inches of rain during the second half of
August. Our subsoil moisture levels remain dryer than normal, but the recent rain is a start to rebuilding for next
year. Temperatures have been below average to average in August and that trend looks to continue into September according to long range forecasts.
Corn is starting to dent, but is still adding dry weight (yield) at this stage. The cool weather and rainfall should
extend the grain fill period and increase test weight as long as it doesn’t get so cold that halts photosynthesis or
freeze premature. We could have wet corn this fall if we don’t have good drying weather in late September and
October. Most corn is still 3 to 4 weeks from full maturity (black layer).
Soybeans had the most to gain from August rainfall. They are rapidly filling pods during this stage. It looks like the
number of pods are down from the last two years, but we should have large beans to help compensate for less
pods. It’s still hard to guess where the soybean yields will fall, but they have improved a lot in the past 2 weeks.
Grain markets continue to work lower. There are still plenty of old-crop supplies to work through ahead of harvest.Some farmers need to sell grain to make room for the new crop. Private yield estimates like the Pro Farmer Tour are coming in closer than expected to the August USDA yield numbers. We still think a harvest or post-harvest market rally is likely, but may be small and short-lived if yield numbers are close to USDA’s August estimate.
Please click on the links on the right to view the past pdf’s of our Northwest Crop Conditions reports.
1705 N Lake Ave
Storm Lake, IA 50588
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