Ralph Lents

Unfavorably wet weather last week led to a drier and more productive weekend for farmers across the state, according to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions report.

Released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this week’s report states that Iowa farmers had 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Iowa Corn Promotion Board Director Ralph Lents, who farms about 1,500 acres across Guthrie, Adair, and Adams counties, says he finished harvesting soybeans about 30 days behind usual last week because of this year’s precipitation.

Lents says last weekend’s dry weather tremendously helped as he began harvesting corn, “Well, we just started here this past Saturday and we’re not into it enough yet but there is some awful good corn out there. The trouble with corn is it’s hanging up there with moisture, it’s going to be a long fall trying to get that thing dried down. Hay, that’s kind of a deal where we haven’t gotten any weather really good to dry it and hay production has kind of come to a stand still.”

Lents adds he’s been selective when harvesting his corn, taking the stalks that haven’t been withstanding the strong winds as well as other hybrids. Statewide, 26% of corn crop has been harvested, eight days behind last year and 11 days behind average. Sixty-six percent of soybean crop has been harvested, equal to last year but six days behind average.