Counties of: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux
This is my last crop update of the season. Harvest is very close to completion in NW Iowa. Recent rainfall has slowed progress on the remaining corn. Most of the area had 2 or more inches of rain over the past month and 4 to 6 inches total over the past two months. Assuming we get more moisture this winter and early spring, soil moisture should be in much better shape for 2022 crop compared to this year. The extended weather outlook calls for near normal temperatures and slightly below normal precipitation, so it looks like a good opportunity for various fall field work.
Corn yields were mostly good or very good, but there was a lot of variability. Some farms missed most of the July rainfall and struggled to get an average crop. Other farms had their best crop ever. Early maturing corn varieties yielded less in many cases. The full-season corn (108 day to 113 day) varieties were much better this year (and wetter). I think the later corn took advantage of the August rain, and the early corn was just too late. Once again farms with high quality soils and strong fertility had the best corn. Soybean yields were also good to very good on most farms. I found soybean yields to be more consistent compared to corn. I think the widespread late summer rainfall helped all the beans.
Crop markets are improving this week after a mostly positive USDA report on Tuesday. The USDA cut bean yield and production numbers which was a surprise to the market. On the negative side, South America appears to have a record large bean crop planted in good shape so far. The USDA report wasn’t positive on corn, but the markets pushed higher anyway. Ethanol demand has been very strong. Local basis levels are much better than normal for this time of year.
I will resume crop updates again in the spring. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
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
Real Estate Licensed in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Stay informed and connected—subscribe to our mailing list today to receive the latest issues of Today’s Land Owner, Crop Updates, or get notified of auctions and real estate for sale, sent directly in your inbox!