Persistent rains have delayed harvest across much of Iowa, with more wet weather expected, which will continue to delay harvest activity. In the eastern Corn Belt, intense heat is quickly evaporating recent rain, firming soils and allowing harvest to continue at a steadier pace.
Here’s what Pro Farmer members recently shared:
Fort Dodge, IA – Roger Williams notes conditions are almost too good, but there has been a little too much rain over the past week and more is on the way. There has been local flooding. Harvest will continue to be delayed until it dries up. As far as the crop goes, soybean pod counts are very high. There have been a couple of harvest reports in the area, with Webster County reporting around 240-bushel corn. Some silage has been harvested in the area, but yields have not yet been confirmed. If it dries up, producers should get going in the next ten days. However, more rain is in the forecast – another 1-2 inches expected. Soybeans are still a week to fifteen days out. Nothing is emerging to cause much concern.
Altamont, IL – Faith Kemme reports harvest began about 10 days ago in south-central Illinois.
“Our first-planted corn is doing pretty great – yielding above average for most fields. I think we’re going to be a little disappointed with the replant corn. We’ve only cut one bean field so far, but the yields look promising in the earliest beans. Double-crop beans could really use a rain. Vegetatively they look great, but they could use a good soaking.”
Gibbon, NE – The area hasn’t had much rain since the last week of August, notes Kirk Summers. The beans are turning, and pivots are still running in some of the later-planted corn. Several bean fields in the area are still very green. There has been some seed corn harvesting activity and some silage choppers running. Producers south of us will likely start harvest over the next few days. With propane costs, many producers are likely letting Mother Nature dry the crop down instead of pushing it. Temps have cooled a bit recently after heat last week and early this week.
Patoka, IN – Caleb Smith reports harvest is underway in Gibson County.
“We currently sit at around a third finished. So far, corn averages on well-drained ground have been above average but not record-breaking, whereas lesser-drained ground has yielded poorly from large summer rains. The corn is drying down quickly in the field, with some already coming out between 15-18%. Hopefully there won’t be any stalk quality issues as the season progresses. Soybeans overall have been excellent except for poorly drained and river-affected ground, where yields are also poor.”
Frost, MN – Lucas Johnson reports the 2026 corn crop in southern Minnesota has the potential to rival the record-setting 2025 corn crop, but with a small amount of tip back, it might not reach its full potential.
The 2026 soybean crop has the potential to beat the 2025 crop, which was in the top 3 of all time for yield. With the amount of rain we received in August, I believe it will achieve that potential.
