Iowa Corn Promotion Board District 7 Director Ralph Lents.

Harvest has shown rapid progress in Iowa as farmers made the most of 6.4 suitable days for field work last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Crop Progress and Conditions Report.

Corn harvest for grain reached 12% statewide, almost three weeks ahead of last year and nine days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean harvest is 30% complete, 19 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of average. This is the highest percent of corn and soybean harvest completed by September 27th since 2012. Menlo farmer and Iowa Corn Promotion Board District 7 Director Ralph Lents says he has about four to five days left of harvesting soybeans, and more work to come for corn, “It’s a lot slower process for us, it’ll probably be about three weeks to do that. We haven’t been in any corn yet so I’m not really sure how good it is. I do think it’s going to be a little better than we expect, but until we get into it we’ll have to wait and see.”

This week’s crop report shows corn condition at 42% good to excellent, and soybeans coloring or beyond advanced to 96%, which is two weeks ahead of last year and one week ahead of average.