Harvest on the horizon in NWI

September's arrival has area farmers eager to harvest corn and soybeans that faced their fair share of adversity this year.

Torrential rainfall early in the growing season hampered fields across northwest Iowa. Many farmers had to wait longer than normal to get their planting completed, while others had to replant portions of their fields altogether due to drown outs.

Once the deluge stopped, an extended dry spell moved into the area. Even with the hardships, local ag experts are expecting a good harvest this fall.

"The reports are all over the board depending on when it was planted, but I'm hearing yields for corn are going to be upper 170s to over 200 [bushels per acre]," said Alic Mohni, an agronomist for New Century FS in Hartley. "That's higher than I expected."

Mohni said chopping season is in full swing and a recent warm stretch has "really progressed the corn crop."

"I think corn will be getting black layered by the end of the month depending on how fast this heat pushes everything along," he said. "The earlier-planted fields look good, and even later-planted stuff is looking decent."

Mohni reported that black tar spot was found in some cornfields, which will likely become a bigger problem next year. The fungus produces dark spots that have a raised, bumpy texture and do not rub off. It reduces the plant's ability to take in sunlight, beginning on the lower leaves and then moving to the upper plant and ear husks.

Black tar spot typically requires an immediate fungicide treatment.

"I was hoping we would get through this year without it, but it looks like it's here," Mohni said. "It wasn't heavy, and I don't think it's going to be a yield factor because it came in late enough."

Mohni said harvest on local bean fields should begin by the end of the month. He noted recent shots of rain helped out in late August.

"They may not be as good last year, but I think people will be pretty happy," he said.

Considering the start local crops had, Mohni was pleased with how things look with harvest on the horizon.

"We can't complain too much," he said. "Overall it's looking better than expected with everything that happened early on."

• Statewide crop report

The USDA's latest Iowa Crop and Condition Report released on Monday marked corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 96 percent this week. Seventy-four percent of the corn crop reached the dent stage or beyond, six days behind last year and two days behind the five-year average.

Corn maturity reached 20 percent, four days behind last year and one day behind the average. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good-to-excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 97 percent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 42 percent, four days behind last year and one day behind the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 9 percent, four days behind last year and three days behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was 78 percent good-to-excellent.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 29 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

The state's third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 93 percent, eight days behind last year but one week ahead of the five-year average. Pasture condition rated 63 percent good-to-excellent.