A local agronomist is encouraging farmers to evaluate their crops before harvest season ramps up. 

ISU Extension Field Agronomist for Central Iowa Meaghan Anderson says this is a perfect time in the growing season to check corn or soybean crops for diseases. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio that once the temperatures start to cool off the moisture tends to stick around longer causing disease issues. 

“It’s a good time to get out and take a closer look at things just as we approach harvest, especially in our corn crop, because there are some maybe disease issues cropping up and it’s just a good opportunity to get a take, get a look at the crop and see whether or not we’ve got any things that may cause problems at harvest.”

Anderson says that roughly 80-percent of corn crop is in that dough stage and 20-percent will still be in the dent stage. She mentions that soybeans are in the R5 and beginning to seed stage. According to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, farmers had 4.7  suitable fieldwork days last week. Most of the field has been cutting hay and harvesting oats.