Warmer and drier weather during the past week is allowing grain harvesting equipment back in Iowa’s corn and soybean fields. But today’s USDA progress update says many farmers are encountering muddy fields and some standing water.
Ten percent of Iowa’s corn acreage has been harvested. That’s about the same as last year, but nine days behind the five-year average for the first week in October.
In Linn County, Brad Stoner is among those just beginning today at his farm near Marion.
“Thirty acres into it,” he said. “Of corn, that put us about 1250 acres to go on corn. There’s a little bit of wind damage, but nothing major. We do have soybeans. We’ve got about two-hundred and some acres to go there. The goal is always Thanksgiving.”
The USDA’s weekly report says 21-percent of Iowa’s soybean acreage is harvested, about even with last year’s pace.