USDA’s condition ratings have remained steady in recent weeks despite a combination of adverse weather conditions across key growing areas. Five farmers, and Pro Farmer members, from Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, share real-time, boots-on-the-ground insights on how the crop is progressing in their area to understand and identify any notable or emerging trends.
In Fort Dodge, Iowa, Roger Williams says recent heat has abated after storms rolled through the middle of July. Overall, the crop looks good north of Highway 30, with enough rain in June to help sustain the crop through the heat. However, the returning heat could start to negatively affect the crop. There is disease pressure in the area, and fungicide applications have been happening over the past week. In fact, there have been more preventive fungicide applications compared with a year ago.
The crop has been relatively stress-free up to this point, but that is likely to change with not much rain in the forecast…