• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Agriculture / Ag Secretary says crop maturity on a good pace

Ag Secretary says crop maturity on a good pace

July 28, 2011 By Matt Kelley

Corn producers in Iowa have faced several challenges this year – including heavy rains during planting season, Missouri River flooding, wind storms and, most recently, extreme heat. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says it appears most of the state’s corn crop has prospered.

“When you look at the crop in total, it’s pretty good,” Northey said. “Certainly, our numbers are good in comparison to other states that, in many cases, have even more problems than what we have. At least we got our crop planted in time. Some of those other states were so much later that, when you have inclement weather then after that, that just really put the burden on those crops.”

The U.S.D.A.’s crop report released this week rated Iowa’s corn at 80% good to excellent. Last week’s extended run of days with temperatures in the upper 90s came at the same time corn was pollinating. Northey says it’s not good for corn at that stage to take on that kind of heat, but there was relief in the form of humidity.

“It made it miserable for people and animals, but for the crop, that humidity kept those silks from drying out,” Northey said. “So, we probably got along O.K.” Much of Iowa’s corn crop was placed in the soil about two weeks later than usual because of the wet spring.

Northey says the crop is now close to “normal maturity” so there’s less of risk of damage in the fall from frost. He says other states are at a greater risk because their crop was planted much later.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Agriculture, Weather Tagged With: Corn & Soybeans

Featured Stories

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

Iowa’s governor approves liability limits for trucking industry

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Cyclone Trio Invited to USA Basketball U19 Training Camp

Cameron Young to compete at the John Deere Classic

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/29/23

Iowa AD Gary Barta announces retirement

Iowa to visit Creighton in Gavitt Tipoff Games

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC