Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented Monday on the weekly Iowa crop progress and condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.

“Harvest is nearing completion with 92 percent of corn and 98 percent of soybeans harvested. Unfortunately, the snow and bitter cold weather creates challenges for farmers that still have crop in the field,” Northey said.

“Phenomenal harvest progress has been made the past two weeks and farmers are now nearly on pace with the five-year average, with 82 percent of the corn and 96 percent of soybeans out of the field,” Northey said. “Southwest and south-central Iowa continue to be most affected by weather delays and farmers in those regions have only been able to harvest 69 and 67 percent of corn as a result of the weather challenges.”

Cold temperatures and snow halted most other activities during the week, but some corn stalks were baled, and manure hauled.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Ninety-two percent of Iowa’s corn acreage was harvested. This was the first time this season that corn harvest was ahead of the normal pace. Corn harvest in south central Iowa continued to trail behind the rest of the state with only 79 percent complete.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 48 percent moderate to heavy, dropping 12 percentage points from the previous week. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated at 84 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was 79 percent adequate to surplus.

Hay and roughage supplies were estimated at 97 percent adequate to surplus. Cold and snowy conditions tested livestock, and some farmers have started to feed hay.

Source - http://www.newtondailynews.com/