As we head full on into harvest, conditions have been much better for crops to be taken out of the ground.

Southern Greene County farmer Pete Bardole says the entire month has been hit-and-miss for when he can get out in the field for harvest.

“Looking ahead we’ll have a good of running. Hopefully finish up soybeans and hit corn hard. I’d say in this area we’re 20-30-percent done on corn and we’ve got to be 70-80-percent done on beans at this point.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s crop report, 61-percent of Iowa’s soybean crop is harvested and soybean conditions are rated 64-percent good to excellent. Rippey farmer John Muir is also trying to finish up harvesting soybeans before he switches to corn. He says there’s a smaller window for harvesting soybeans compared to corn.

“The ground conditions have to be good and the beans have to get themselves, to even consider harvesting them, have to be down to a good moisture (level). Whereas corn, if you don’t mind paying a drying bill you can get it anytime. All the stars have to align to have some good running on beans.”

The crop report shows that about 23-percent of Iowa’s corn has been harvested and that 64-percent of corn is rated good to excellent.