DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.
“Farmers are trying to wrap up harvest and complete additional fall field work, including tillage, fertilizer applications and conservation practice construction,” Northey said. “That 12 percent of the corn crop still in the field represents an estimated $1 billion worth of grain yet to be harvested in Iowa.”
The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia. The report summary follows here:
CROP REPORT
Corn harvest advanced to 88 percent complete in Iowa during the week ending November 10, 2013, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Other activities for the week included the application of anhydrous ammonia and fertilizers. High moisture corn was a concern for farmers with fields left to be harvested.
Above normal precipitation during the week improved soil moisture levels. Topsoil moisture levels rated 10 percent very short, 27 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 23 percent very short, 36 percent short, 40 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 51 percent moderate to heavy. Ninety-five percent of Iowa reported adequate or surplus off-farm grain storage availability and 85 percent reported adequate or surplus on-farm grain storage availability.
Iowa farmers harvested 13 percent of their corn for grain or seed during the week advancing harvest to 88 percent complete, 8 percentage points ahead of normal. Soybean harvest was 98 percent complete, 3 days ahead of normal.
Pasture condition rated 19 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 17 percent good and 2 percent excellent. Hay supplies were considered 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus across Iowa with over 90 percent rated in fair to good condition.
Why don’t we get out in front of the marijuana thing and treat it like a business and legalize growing hemp and medical marijuana 2 new industries that would bring a gold mine to this state. Then we would not need no farmer welfare. Oh! that’s right legalizing marijuana would mess it up for the private prisons that Steve King and governor Branstad’s supporters and heavily invested in. Can’t have that but we can have Casinos that wreck families all across this state.
Yep! And Sheriff Kevin Pals has determined that cancer patients don’t need or deserve any pot. He’s former DARE and has made the medical decision for all of us…well, because it keeps his people employed. What kind of human hurts his fellow man in order to hire himself and his friends?
It’s just sad and hemp is not marijuana. In fact the growing hemp around here that grows in ditches seeds any marijuana plants and ruins them.
We are weird and backward and it’s just plain scary. One day we will live in a world without the Pals, Hepperlys, Branstads and Kings of this world and it will be a much better place. Just you wait and see. We should be swimming in hemp money but vested interests keep it from happening.
@SUCKS-you druggers come on here all the time spreading your crap and are around for a little while. Then you get busted for BREAKING the LAW and end up in jail where you belong. All you do is steal from people to support your damn nasty habits and complain because the law doesn’t suit you. If you don’t like the law, change it. Otherwise, go to jail.
It would be 10 trillion if it were cannabis.
What would the dollar value of this same crop be without any government subsidies?
Four times the norm to make up for off years. And you will pay it because you have no choice. Actually, you will not pay directly, but in the price of meats, foodstuffs, and ethanol.
And when farmers do go broke, the rest of the industry suffers. Think seed companies, Deere, Financial concerns, local employment (adding even more to the current tax burden).
I am not a supporter of everyone getting government payouts, that should be only in times of crop failure, and be on a very limited scope based upon income.
easier to just go to the mailbox for another government check
Big problem now that there’s snow on the ground
Remember the Farm Bill is needed to help all these poor farmers from going broke!