Soybean harvest is well underway; corn harvest has begun

A field off Middle Calmar Road

Northeast Iowa farmers are well into the job of harvest soybeans, but are still waiting to harvest corn.  That's the word from ISU Extension field agronomist Brian Lang, who is based in Decorah.

Lang estimates that about 70 percent of the soybeans have been harvested, but just 10 percent of the corn in Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette and Clayton counties. 

As for the yields from fields that have been harvested, Lang says they vary widely, depending upon soil type and the amount of moisture received.  Some fields were hit by heavy rains during the spring, but others escaped.  The summer's drought hit sandy soiled fields more than the loamy ones.

Lang reports corn yields ranging from 110 to 240 bushels, depending on soil type and rainfall totals.

Not much corn has been harvested yet

Looking north towards Highway 9