Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Corn in southeast Iowa is ahead of the five-year average. According to this week’s Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 88% of corn is in the dough stage locally, two points ahead of the average, and 60% of corn has dented in southeast Iowa, ahead of the 54% five-year average. Corn in Iowa is currently rated at 13% fair, 57% good, and 26% excellent.

Washington County’s 10-year average yield for corn is 168 bushels per acre with the record set last year at 195 bushels per acre, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.This year, the U.S. corn production is forecast at a record-high 15.2 billion bushels, with average corn yield at 175 bushels per acre.