greg.peters's blog

It seems like weather extremes from cold to hot and wet to dry or vice versa is becoming the normal weather pattern for the cornbelt and 2011 was no exception. Several different environments occurred across western Iowa this season from a cool start to a wet June, several different wind events and concluding with record heat and low rainfall. These factors contributed to variable yield results across western Iowa but most producers have been pleasantly surprised at the final numbers.

Recent crop estimates has everyone in the industry scratching their head trying to figure out if the reported yields are possible and whether or not to begin to market their new or old crop that is in the field/bin.  The crop in western Iowa is in overall good condition.  We did experience some wet weather in the southern and northern portions of Iowa in June that has left wet holes that won’t contribute a lot to the yield but most of the areas around the wet spots have recovered nicely.  The recent crop report out of the Department of Agriculture has the corn crop a

Every year has challenges for production agriculture and 2011 has not been an exception to this statement.  We have been fortunate in western Iowa and northwest Missouri to get most of the crop in at this time.  The weather has been less than cooperative lately and it has made it difficult to finish planting or in some cases potentially creating replant situations.

Corn: 2010 was another year for the record books and one that most people in the southern portion of Iowa hope they will never see again. Many producers had high hopes for this year because fields were planted early and they started off with great conditions. Rains began to fall in mid-May and they did not quit until late July making most field operations impossible to accomplish. Excessive rain and nitrogen loss lead to many fields that had yield levels that varied from 40 to 200 bushel per acre.