September 14, 2007

Iowa 2007 corn crop seen to reach 2.54 billion bushels

Iowa's corn yield is now expected to be 182 bushels per acre, resulting in an Iowa crop of almost 2.54 billion bushels in 2007, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

On the other hand, Iowa's expected soybean yield is 51 bushels per acre for a total crop of 447.3 million bushels.

The state's farmers began harvesting corn and soybeans last week. According to the weekly weather and crop conditions survey released by Iowa Ag Statistics Service on September 12, seed corn harvest continues as corn silage cutting is being finished in some areas.

In fields with downed corn, farmers are avoiding further losses due to stalk breakage and stalk rot. The heaviest lodging of corn is being reported in the southern one-third of Iowa. Meanwhile, sudden death syndrome --a soybean disease¡ªcontinues to be reported in soybean fields.

The state's corn dough stage is at 98 percent statewide as of September 12, 1 percent behind last year, but 1 percent ahead of the 5-year average. Corn in dent stage is at 91 percent, which is 1 percent behind last year's 92 percent, but ahead of the 5-year average of 85 percent.

Corn maturity has reached 41 percent -- ahead of both last year's 27 percent and the 5-year average of 28 percent. Statewide, the percent moisture of corn in the field is 31 percent while percent moisture of corn currently being harvested is 25 percent. 

Statewide in Iowa, corn condition as of September 12 rates 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 50 percent good and 19 percent excellent. About 62 percent of the soybeans have leaves turning colour, 5 percent behind last year and 3 percent behind the 5-year average of 65 percent. The percent of the Iowa soybean crop that is now dropping leaves is at 25 percent, 1 percent behind last year but 1 percent ahead of the 5-year average. Soybean condition rates 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 52 percent good and 20 percent excellent.