The crops in central Iowa are continuing to progress on the edge of harvest season.

Dallas County Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the crops are in the late reproductive stage. She comments that corn is starting to mature, developing brown leaves, while the soybeans are starting to yellow. Anderson admits that she wouldn’t be shocked to see combines out in the field as early as next as she believes a big shift is coming for the soybeans in the next two weeks.

“They’re really going to start dropping leaves. It’s that time when you know those beans will be very close to harvest. When those fields, they drop all those leaves and they turn that nice reddish brown color just ahead of harvest.”

Anderson elaborates on the lack of moisture that affected the crops in 2023.

“Last year I think we had a little bit more consistency in the crop or at least the start that the crop had, which leads to consistency generally through the rest of the season, and we definitely didn’t have as much moisture.”

Anderson says that when the rain came this year, some areas needed to be replanted due to being drowned out. She concludes that the crops are on the downslope and are in the process of waiting for them to finish out before harvest season.