CROP REPORT: Farmers Begin Harvest

Iowa farmers are getting work done in the fields, but it’s not all good news.

 The USDA estimates that 10-percent of Iowa’s corn has been harvested. That’s three weeks ahead of average.

Because of the drought, 52-percent of Iowa’s corn is rated in poor condition. That’s actually an improvement from a week ago. Only 16-percent of the corn is rated good or better.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says, “It has certainly been a challenging year for all farmers, but I think many are excited to get into the field and see exactly what yields will be.”

Some farmers have begun to harvest soybeans. Thirty-seven percent of the state’s soybean crop is rated poor or very poor.