While Iowa’s planting season had an optimistic start with mild spring conditions pushing farmers ahead of schedule, this summer’s drought and the recent derecho have unraveled that progress.

Corn and soybean development are both about two weeks ahead of last year and ahead of the five-year average, but their condition was rated the lowest of the season this week in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress and Condition Report. ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Mike Witt says those conditions will probably get worse, “It is not going to be one of the higher yielding years for Guthrie County. There will be some fields that still do okay, but I think averages and things like that are not going to look good this year. I wish I had a better forecast than that but that is what is happening this year, and I think farmers are going to have to accept that and prepare accordingly for next year.”

The oat harvest and alfalfa hay second cutting are also ahead of last year. Topsoil moisture condition is rated 20% very short, 36% short, 42% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition is rated 17% very short, 36% short, 46% adequate, and 1% surplus. You can hear more from Witt in the second half of a two-part Let’s Talk Guthrie County program today on air and at raccoonvalleyradio.com.