Iowa’s corn and soybeans are one week ahead of the five-year average. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly report, as of September 6th corn was 84% in or beyond the dent stage, 18 days ahead of last year. And over one-quarter was mature.

In southeast Iowa, corn trails those marks with 72% in the dent stage and 16% mature. Statewide, 58% of soybeans are coloring or beyond, which is two weeks ahead of last year. In southeast Iowa, 40% of soybeans are coloring and 7% are dropping leaves.

Former Governor of Iowa and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack reflects on the current state of agriculture, “I think there’s a lot of stress out there in the countryside. The reality is that the trade war that was ill-advised and sort of ill-implemented has caused a lot of grief in the countryside. It has created a surplus which has driven down commodity prices. In addition, this administration has granted, literally billions of gallons of waivers in terms of the Renewable Fuel Standard which has resulted in four-billion fewer gallons of ethanol being produced over the last several years which means a billion bushels of corn wasn’t sold to those facilities. That has impacted farm income and also impacted employment opportunities.” He added that the handling of the pandemic has also caused worry.

Drought conditions are a concern for most of the state. In southeast Iowa, topsoil moisture is rated at 30% adequate, 31% short, and 39% very short. Locally subsoil moisture is rated at 33% adequate, 31% short, and 36% very short.