Harvest 'in Full Swing' Across Iowa, Rain Welcome to Reduce Dust and Fires

Your contribution today guarantees Decorah News is asking the questions tomorrow. Act now. "Summer-like" temperatures and almost no precipitation over the past week expedited harvest season across Iowa, according to a Monday weather summary from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said harvest was "in full swing" in the IDALS release and corn and soybean farmers said their harvests are ahead of schedule because of the weather conditions. According to State Climatologist Justin Glisan, temperatures for the Sept. 29 through Oct. 5 reporting period were 12 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit above the climatological normal. Glisan also said rainfall was "sparse" over the period, with the weekly average rainfall below a measurable amount. Despite what farmers described as dry conditions, the majority of Iowa is not experiencing any drought conditions, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Overall, 30% of Iowa was in "abnormally dry" conditions. Randy Miller, a farmer and Iowa Soybean Association member based near Lacona, said precipitation early Monday morning slowed his harvest efforts. But Miller welcomed the rain and said it was "too dry for comfort" to be out in a hot combine as temperatures the past week have neared 90 degrees. Miller said his combines have been "smoldering" and there have been reports of neighbors and other farmers across the state dealing with combine fires due to the dry stalks and hot weather. "So hopefully the temperatures will cool off, this moisture will soak back up some of that, and it'll be a more traditional harvest," Miller said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service ordinarily compiles harvest data in its weekly crop progress and condition reports, but the office is not publishing reports during the current government shutdown. Miller said Monday that on his farm, about 25% of his corn has been harvested and nearly half of his soybeans are harvested. Miller said that is ahead of schedule, considering he normally begins harvesting soybeans on Oct. 1. "We cut beans for however long it takes to cut all our beans, and then we pick corn," Miller said. "So we've already picked corn and we've got half our beans cut the 5th of October, I would say harvest is rolling right along." Miller said he started harvesting corn earlier than normal this year because it reached its optimal moisture levels sooner than usual. Miller said the farms around him are harvesting at a similar pace. Will Cannon, an Iowa Corn Growers Association board member and farmer near Newton, said he also started harvesting corn a "little ahead" of his typical schedule this year. Cannon said he started early in part because of disease pressure. Sections of his corn were hit with Southern corn rust, a disease that occasionally makes its way up to Iowa when weather patterns are just right, and tar spot, which can take off under wet conditions like Iowa saw in July. Cannon said this was the worst corn rust pressure he has experienced. "I think of rust as being a 1-in-20 year issue, and that combined with the wet July, I think it's probably a once-in-a-lifetime scenario we had this year," Cannon said. Cannon said he has harvested about 40% of his corn and 55% of his soybeans as of Monday. The crops are drying down quickly, according to Cannon, and most farmers are "pushing really hard, trying to keep up with everything drying down." He said the Monday rain, which also kept him out of the field, would help to moisten corn and soybeans and help farmers keep their yields up. Trade tensions and agricultural challenges Historically, China has been the largest buyer of soybeans, but trade war tensions from the first Trump administration and current tariff disputes between the nations have left soybean farmers in a tough position. Cannon said the soybean industry has been the "poster child" for trade instability lately, but the tensions between the U.S. and China put a "dark cloud over the top of everything." Cannon said as China buys less of other U.S. crops, like cotton and sorghum, those farmers might instead plant corn and soybeans, which in turn means more corn and soybeans on the market. USDA reports show planted corn acreage increased 5% in 2025 compared to 2024, while soybeans planted decreased 4%, wheat planted went down 1% and cotton planted decreased 10%. "This instability is causing everybody to make tough decisions, and it's just putting pressure on all the markets," Cannon said. Cannon said with "steadily eroding" grain prices the past two years, he tries to focus on the things he can do to better his farm, rather than on the depreciating market. "It can be really mentally challenging to stay upbeat and stay optimistic about things when every day the news is about how the markets are going down," Cannon said. Overall, it means he has put off equipment upgrades that aren't vital and tried to be very conscious about all of his input costs. "I'm still glad I'm in farming," Cannon said. "I'm afraid that there's probably a few more hard years ahead of us. But I think with some of the challenging times we're having right now, there's some really interesting discussions that are happening amongst farmers. "… I think there's some opportunities to get some really honest answers and get some really good feedback from farmers right now that could lead to some long-term positive changes in policy and how we think about farming." Miller said some of his grain was forward sold earlier this year, but he is still worried by the apparent loss of the Chinese soybean market. "When the largest buyer of soybeans in the world doesn't buy any from you, and we're in our window when we should have been shipping beans to them–yeah, it's concerning, because nobody can make up for that," Miller said. Despite the wet July, a dry fall and an early start to harvest season, Miller said it's been "just another typical year in Iowa." "You get 40 different chances to raise a crop, and this one was by far different than any I've experienced," Miller said. Feed your curiosity! Subscribe to the free newsletter and indulge in all that's local. Your friends will be impressed.