Snowy conditions last week didn’t help farmers get crops out of the fields. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Iowa’s farmers had 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork last week with challenging field conditions and the first snow accumulation of the season. Local field agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe says it has been a tough year for southeast Iowa’s farmers, “Definitely not a normal year, it’s been a very challenging year from planting to now, even through harvest. And I know that there’s lots of farmers who are ready for this year to be over, so hopefully we can make it through it okay, and then next year will be hopefully better.” Vittetoe says if farmers have any questions to contact the Extension office, especially regarding drying crops and winter storage.

Iowa’s corn harvest is 11 days behind the five-year average with 43% of corn harvested for grain so far. In southeast Iowa, 59% of corn has been harvested. Also, statewide soybean harvest is about one week behind average with 80% harvested. Southeast Iowa lags with 65% of soybeans harvested.