Wet and unfavorable weather conditions continue to delay harvest season across Iowa.

According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop report, only three-percent of corn and five-percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is two weeks and ten days behind the average, respectively. Landus Cooperative Field Agronomist Zach Minnihan says the wet weather conditions this fall is similar to this past spring, which he believes will draw out the harvest season longer than expected. Going forward, Minnihan points out more potential weather issues that could be on the way.

“We’ve got basically a dead plant that you’ve still got some moisture in the grain itself. So if we’re looking at it, that field standing for another month with some of these (high) winds, we advise to go get it quicker than usual. Everybody hates a drying bill of course but you’d rather have corn to dry than corn on the ground that you can’t get to.”   

While farmers may want the first frost to come later than this weekend, Minnihan says it could be beneficial. He notes, the colder temperatures could help dry the ground to allow farmers to harvest early in the morning. Minnihan adds because of the late planting season and how weather has been a huge factor, yields will vary greatly within Greene County.