Good Rains Set Tone for Expected Bumper Crop in Northeast Iowa

Jul. 6–CLARKSVILLE — Corn tassels will be sprouting soon in Northeast Iowa.

Abundant rains recently gave Northeast Iowa farmers a full moisture profile heading into the critical pollination period. Barring complications from weather or insect pressure, local farmers could be growing another bumper crop.

Tuesday’s weekly U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report indicated the condition of the state’s corn and soybean crops remained unchanged last week, despite excessive rainfall in some areas of northern Iowa and drought conditions in the south.

Clarksville grain farmer Chris Backer expects to see a few tassels by the end of the week. As planting has gradually started earlier, seeing tassels so close to the Fourth of July isn’t as much of a oddity as it once was.

Backer hasn’t had problems with insects yet. His fields also received little to no damage from strong winds and heavy rains that have pounded parts of Northeast Iowa during the past two weeks.

“The corn is looking pretty good. It’s got some good color,” Backer said. “Some (local) corn went down in the wind in fields that were really wet. It looks like its coming back though.”

Brian Lang, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist based in Decorah, said younger corn can usually survive being blown over.

However, just the fact it happened could indicate other problems, like poor root development.

Lang said he’s received reports of very high rootworm pressure, which was brought on by adequate moisture levels. One report had larval numbers at 10 to 20 per plant. Insecticide treatments may be warranted to limit yield loss.

“Most are not worried about the recent high winds laying down some corn, and they shouldn’t be. Corn at this stage will not have any trouble uprighting itself,” Lang said.

As of Sunday, the average corn height statewide was 36 inches, up 13 inches from a week ago. The corn stand is rated 94 percent of normal, 1 percent above the five-year average.

The crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 57 percent good and 20 percent excellent.

Soybean emergence is virtually complete statewide. The crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 56 percent good and 18 percent excellent.

“The soybeans could stand a stretch of dry weather actually. Some are looking a little yellow,” Backer said.

Ninety-five percent of the state’s oat crop is headed as of Sunday, 8 percent ahead of the five-year average. Only 5 percent of the crop is rated in poor condition, with the rest listed as fair or better.

Rainfall for the state last week averaged 1.62 inches, about 50 percent more than the weekly normal. Temperatures in the 90s were reported in several regions, with a high of 99 in Sioux City last Thursday.

As conditions permitted last week, farmers were busy spraying, cultivating fields and baling hay.

Overall, livestock conditions were good although reduced gain from heat stress was reported.

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