The Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area’s drought continues to affect farmers’ crops. 

According to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, farmers had an average of 6.1 suitable field days last week. 

ISU Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the corn is still green down to the bottom and kernel abortion is happening and soybeans are starting to burn up and turn yellow in some places. He says it is not unexpected. 

“For the end of August when we have been in a drought type of a thing but we could use some rain in there.”

Witt adds  going into the fall it all depends on the moisture the Raccoon Valley Radio listening-area can get to stay green longer and get better grain fill. Spider mites continue to be a pest in soybeans.