This fall's harvest might be a record setter after all

This has been a tumultuous growing season for Winneshiek County farmers.  But as the fall harvest approaches, there are signs the results will be much better than might have predicted when snow covered the ground in April.

ISU Extension Crop Specialist Brian Lang of Decorah says the latest USDA estimate predicts a harvest averaging 202 bushels per ace for corn, 59 bushels per acre for soybeans and 61 bushels per acre for oats.

If those figures hold true, the 2018 state corn yield will tie for the second highest yield ever, and the soybean yield will be a new record high.

Lang says the very warm and wet June in northern Iowa hurt oats during pollination, so no records are likely for oats.