After a few weeks of hot weather, cooler temperatures have moved into the area which may impact area crops.

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says that the back to back heat spells a few weeks ago helped speed the maturation of corn and soybean fields, and progressed them to their fall senescence periods. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio how current cooler weather is affecting the crops.

“So we have a lot of crops that are maturing, and they’re maturing quite rapidly right now across the area. So these cooler temperatures will help slow that process a little, but it won’t stop that process. Things are moving quite quickly.”

Witt mentions that there are already some fields that are being harvested, especially for corn silage and early plantings of both corn and soybeans. He adds that there are also some pests and diseases including soybean gall midge and white mold for soybeans, and degradation of stalk quality, which can lead to stalk rot in corn. Witt advises that with temperatures predicted to climb back into the 80’s next week, some fields may be ready for harvest sooner than planned.

“Any of the spikes or increases in these temperatures with our lack of moisture that we have going on across the area is really just going to accelerate that drydown and accelerate that death of the plant. So the warmer the temperatures, the faster that’s all going to take place.”

Witt explains that for those farmers who are harvesting, or are thinking about starting to harvest, moisture levels could be a concern. If corn or beans have a moisture content that is too high, then the farmers will either need to spend money to try and dry it out more, or may take a hit at grain co-ops, and receive lower profit to have their grain dried there.