Warmer temperatures and minimal precipitation allowed Iowa farmers 5.6 days of suitable fieldwork last week according to the latest Crop Progress and Condition report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. 

Field activities included harvesting, fall tillage, fertilizer and anhydrous applications and baling corn stalks. Harvest was wrapping up in some parts of the state. Iowa’s corn for grain harvest reached 84%, four days ahead of the five-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 17%. Only farmers in south central Iowa have over 25% of their corn for grain crop remaining to be harvested. Ninety-five percent of Iowa’s soybean crop has been harvested, three days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean harvest is nearly complete in much of the state with farmers in the southwest and south central districts having over 10% of their soybean crop still to harvest. Livestock were reported to be faring well.