(Atlantic) Persistent rain and soggy field conditions are putting the brakes on harvest across much of Iowa, with farmers facing delays as fields struggle to dry out.
Aaron Sauegling, Iowa State Extension Agronomist for Southwest Iowa, says the rainfall amounts are taking the region into unprecedented territory.
Sauegling’s rain bucket in Atlantic is showing a combined 25 to 26 inches of rain over August and September.
Sauegling admits logistics are going to be a challenge. He says producers will have to do a thorough job of assessing grain samples coming out of the field.
Saeugling says soybeans will be a challenge as well. He is noticing some disease pressure due to excessive moisture.
Saeugling says operators may have to ramp up the fan speed to blow some of the mold off the soybeans. Concave settings could also be an issue as operators adjust to the various grain sizes being threshed through the combine. He says corn standability could also become an issue.
Saeugling says another issue is storage. He adds that operators should try to avoid wet grain at the bottom of the bin, although he says that is virtually unavoidable.
Saeugling says before the latest rain event, early reports showed some good corn yields.
Saeugling says warmer, drier conditions in the forecast could give farmers an opportunity to make progress on the harvest, but wet conditions remain a concern for both soybeans and corn.
