 |
 |
|
|
|
National & World Ag News Headlines |
 |
Iowa corn yields surprise amidst droughts
USAgNet - 09/22/2023
Drought hit almost 90% of Iowa this year, raising concerns about the corn yields. Yet, early harvest reports from farmers are positive. Iowa State University Extension field agronomists found that farmers, despite the drought, have reported average or better yields. Virgil Schmitt, who oversees southeast Iowa, expressed surprise at the unexpected grain output.
The secret might be the genetics of corn hybrids. These have consistently shown resistance to drought stress over the past three years, resulting in near-record yields. A cooler July this year also provided some relief.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasted average corn yields in Iowa to be around 200 bushels per acre, mirroring last year's stats. However, the highest recorded was 204 bushels in 2021. It’s still early days, with only 5% of the state’s corn harvest reported, and yields differ across fields.
Agronomists like Clarabell Probasco noted lower yields in drier areas like southern Iowa, whereas in central Iowa, Meaghan Anderson reported average or even higher yields.
Despite the promising start, challenges persist. Only 21% of the state’s topsoil has adequate moisture. Last week’s weather did provide some respite with significant rainfall in parts of Iowa.
Almost half of the state's corn crop is rated good or excellent, a testament to the resilience of modern farming practices.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2023 - Farms.com. All Rights Reserved. |
 |
|
