Northeast Iowa's corn crop will be strong this season

This year's corn crop in Northeast Iowa could be huge, according to agronomists.

ISU Extension Agronomist Brian Lang in Decorah has just issued his latest crop report.  It says the average total of Growing Degree Days for corn grown in Northeast Iowa is 1,670 by mid-August. The latest figures this year place long-term growing degree days at an average of 1,810, with a range from 1,700 to 1,900.

Average GDD per day for mid-August is 20/day. Current conditions will average around 23 GDD/day over the next week.

Lang also notes it wouldn't hurt the corn crop to have slightly cooler weather in the next week or two.

"While corn growing conditions are quite good, a faster than normal maturation pace will take a bit of yield of the top," Lang said. "Cooler weather would slow the maturation pace and improve yield potential."