(Undated)– An agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in northwest Iowa says the change to a much drier, cooler pattern came just in the nick of time. Leah Ten Napel says even then there’s a possibility the wet conditions caused some damage…
“We’re starting to see some purple soybeans, some purple seeds in the pods there, and then also like you’re saying some sprouting on those ears. And so that’s an interesting thing. Everyone should be out scouting just kind of to see what condition their fields are in. For the most part, hopefully those plants that you might find that are experiencing that, hopefully will be far and few between. The soybeans we’ve been looking at, it’s usually more concentrated up on top then lower on the plant it’s less affected, but overall these aren’t huge issues. Usually there’s little enough out in the field that’s going to get dispersed or even running through the combine is going to kind of help shake some of that off the corn plant at least. So it’s not going to be as big of an issue but is definitely concerning when growers are out in the field thinking why are my plants looking like this?”
While producers may be chomping at the bit to start the harvest, Ten Napel says it’s crucial they hold off to allow soils dry out at least somewhat…
“It’s important that everyone is checking out their field conditions before we drive that heavy equipment on the soils. We can have a lot of damage from heavy equipment on these really fragile, wet soils. Really encourage everybody to get out and check your fields before you are driving your equipment that way. If you do need to get a field out before maybe conditions are perfect, there are some different adjustments we can make with like tire pressure, axels, and things like that.”
Dry weather is expected to continue now through pretty much all of next week.
(Thanks to Community First Broadcasting’s KIWA in Sheldon for contributing to this story)
