This fall’s dry conditions have sped up the harvest for many area producers.  Central Iowa Farm Management Specialist Steve Johnson says local farm numbers are comparable.

“56 percent of the states corn was harvested as of Sunday night, September 30th and 54% of our soybeans.  A record harvest date, probably the fasted we’ve harvested a corn and soybean crop.  In Central Iowa, our numbers are very similar, 53% of the corn and 63% of the soybeans (have been harvested)” says Johnson.

Johnson predicts the record rate will continue.

“For this next Monday I would expect that we’ll probably be near 90% of the soybeans harvested, and probably well over 60% of the sweet corn will be harvested” adds Johnson.

With no significant precipitation in the forecast, look for the record rate of the harvest to continue for the foreseeable future.