Central Iowa Crop Report: August 15, 2012

Scattered rain showers continue to occur in Central Iowa. These showers should really help the soybeans as they are beginning seed (R5). The cooler temperatures have slowed the maturation process of the crops. Corn plants need to be watched weekly as stalk quality issues are arising due to the extreme heat and lack of moisture. This may force combines to start rolling in fields earlier than we would like. It will be important to have an assessment of each field to know which fields need to be harvested first to avoid further downed corn.

Central & Eastern Iowa Crop Report: August 8, 2012

Rain moved through the region over the weekend, providing crops with some temporary relief from the drought. Producers are finishing up this year’s crop activities and are waiting for harvest to begin. Stalk quality issues need to be watched weekly and may force combines to start rolling in fields earlier than we would like. I encourage everyone to get the combines ready; make sure everything is calibrated and the mapping program is working. A notebook and good yield maps are going to be great tools to make decisions and crop plan for 2013.