Wet harvest advancing, yields looking good

With grain dryers running nonstop across the state, harvest proceeded in force this week as several dry days finally appeared.

The most recent Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service revealed corn harvest for grain had reached an 18 percent completion rating, which was 22 percent behind last year and five days behind the five-year average. The moisture content for all corn in the field was estimated at 26 percent, or 7 percentage points higher than the five-year average.

While the moisture content of corn harvested was estimated at 23 percent in the report, Iowa's corn crop condition rating had increased to 82 percent good to excellent by Sunday, with yields looking like they may approach the 186 per bushel record yield forecast set by the USDA.

Soybeans harvested had reached the 54 percent completion level, which was 38 percent behind last year and 26 days behind the five-year average. The crop's condition was rated as 16 percent being excellent, 53 percent good, 21 percent fair, 7 percent poor and 3 percent very poor......Full article here

Harvest continues to be slowed by rain, snow

GRAND FORKS — Farmers made little if any progress in harvesting crops the past week in eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota as rainy, muddy and cold conditions continued to foil field operations.Water can be seen standing in farm fields in the southern end of the Red River Valley, which has gotten more rain — up to 5 inches — the past month than the northern end.The National Weather Service put out flood watches in the southern end of the valley last week as steady rains on already saturated fields meant the new water mostly drained quickly into ditches, streams and rivers.There’s more and more doubt if all the beans and flax will get harvested before winter sets in, farmers and county extension agents say. Corn and sunflowers usually can make it through winter, if necessary.Minnesota farmers got in only two days of field work last week, and North Dakota farmers only three days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress report.It’s the fifth-consecutive week farmers have gotten less than 3.5 days for field work......Full article here