DES MOINES — Iowa farmers have harvested two-thirds of the state’s corn and 90% of its soybeans, making substantial progress despite scattered rain and an unusually warm finish to October, according to the crop report released Monday, November 2, 2026.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report for October 26 through November 1 showed corn harvest at 66% complete, still 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean harvest matched its five-year average at 90%.
Farmers had 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the reporting period.
“Weather conditions allowed Iowa farmers to make strong harvest progress last week. Soybean harvest is nearing completion in many areas and corn harvest is well beyond the halfway point,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.
Naig said forecasts accompanying the report called for widespread rain during the coming week, potentially helping newly seeded cover crops establish themselves.
Warm soils bring a reminder about fall fertilizer
The prolonged warmth also prompted Naig to urge farmers to monitor soil temperatures before applying anhydrous ammonia.
“As warmer temperatures continue this fall, I encourage farmers to keep an eye on 4-inch soil temperatures and wait for ‘50 degrees and falling’ before applying anhydrous,” Naig said.
He pointed farmers toward the Iowa State University Mesonet for county soil-temperature information.
Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 4% short, 80% adequate and 16% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 6% short, 82% adequate and 12% surplus.
The complete weekly crop report is available through the USDA’s crop progress reporting page.
Northern Iowa rainfall varied considerably
Rain fell somewhere in Iowa each day during the reporting period, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan’s weather summary. Northwestern and southern Iowa recorded the largest totals, while a few northeastern stations reported no measurable precipitation for the week.
Northwestern Iowa received substantial rain early in the period. Rock Rapids measured 1.20 inches and Primghar recorded 1.01 inches as showers persisted across much of the state’s northwestern half on Monday, October 26.
Another band of showers associated with a cold front brought generally lighter amounts into Tuesday. Eagle Grove recorded 0.68 inch, while Fort Dodge received 0.55 inch during that round.
A separate front crossed Iowa Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, producing showers and thunderstorms. Most stations recorded less than 0.20 inch, although a Fort Dodge gauge measured 0.72 inch.
Later rainfall favored southern Iowa and a corridor extending from central into southeastern Iowa. Twenty-one stations recorded more than an inch during that stretch, including 2.42 inches at Allerton.
Statewide temperatures ran nearly 12 degrees above normal
Iowa’s average temperature for the week was 56.8 degrees, or 11.8 degrees above normal. Much of the southern two-thirds of the state ran 12 to 15 degrees warmer than usual.
The warmth was especially noticeable Wednesday, when gusty southerly winds helped push eastern Iowa temperatures into the middle and upper 70s. Increasing cloud cover held western Iowa readings mainly in the upper 60s and lower 70s.
Spencer Municipal Airport recorded the week’s lowest temperature, 33 degrees, on October 29. That reading was just one degree below normal.
Clarinda recorded the high of 81 degrees on October 25, a reading included in the state’s weather summary and 20 degrees above normal.
Statewide precipitation averaged 0.70 inch, compared with a normal of 0.50 inch. Weekly totals ranged from no measurable rain at a few northeastern stations to 2.47 inches at Allerton.
The new corn harvest figure is 19 percentage points ahead of the 47% completion reported the previous week.
With 34% of Iowa’s corn acreage and 10% of its soybean acreage still awaiting harvest, the next stretch of weather will help determine how quickly farmers finish their fall fieldwork.