Iowa's 2024 corn harvest now ‘virtually complete’

The corn harvest in Iowa is "virtually complete" despite one of the wettest Novembers on record, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

That finish is comparable with recent drought years that have allowed farmers to expeditiously harvest their corn and soybeans. The vast majority of soybeans were harvested by the end of October this year.

Drought conditions were noted in parts or all of Iowa for nearly four years starting in July 2020. The harvest in 2019 — which was delayed by a wet fall and late planting due to a wet spring — stretched well into December.

The USDA has predicted record average corn yields for Iowa this year of 213 bushels per acre, according to a report this month. That was a slight downgrade from the department's October prediction, but it is far higher than the 2021 record of 204.

Soybean yields are projected to be 61 bushels per acre, which is two bushels shy of the record. Actual yields will be tabulated by early next year.

"We give thanks for yet another bountiful harvest across Iowa, despite many challenges including a wet spring, a dry fall and some challenging severe weather," said Mike Naig, the state's agriculture secretary, in a statement Monday. "Record or near record yields and production for both corn and soybeans, combined with commodity prices not keeping up with costs, amplifies the continual need to build and expand markets locally, domestically and internationally."

This month has been the eighth-wettest November on record for Iowa, according to Iowa State University data.

Last week, more than eight-tenths of an inch of rain fell on average across the state, which is about double what is typically expected, State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported. Air temperatures also were about 5 degrees warmer than normal.

The rains significantly have reduced drought conditions that developed in September.

The dryness peaked in late October, when half the state had severe drought, according to U.S. Drought Monitor reports. Almost all of that area since has improved to "moderate" drought," last week's report said.

Despite the dry spell, the state has had its 24th-wettest year so far, ISU data shows. And the November rains significantly improved soil moisture ahead of winter, when frozen ground is less likely to be replenished.

About 66 percent of topsoil and 45 percent of subsoil in Iowa's farm fields have adequate or surplus moisture for growing crops, the USDA reported Monday. In late October, at least 80 percent of the soil was short or very short of moisture.

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