On Monday, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service for the period of November 2-8.

Warmer than normal temperatures and no precipitation allowed Iowa farmers 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 8, 2020, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities again included harvesting corn and soybeans, baling corn stalks, applying fertilizer and manure, and tillage.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 16 percent very short, 36 percent short, 48 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 23 percent very short, 36 percent short, 41 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Only 6 percent of Iowa’s corn for grain crop remains to be harvested, almost 4 weeks ahead of last year and over 2 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. Statewide, the moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain remained at 15 percent. Farmers in northwest, north central and west central Iowa have less than 5 percent of their corn for grain remaining to be harvested while farmers in south central Iowa still have over 15 percent to be harvested.

Only 2 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop remains to be harvested, almost 3 weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of average. Farmers in most of the state have only scattered fields left to harvest. Livestock producers continue to allow cattle to graze on corn stalks.