Field conditions are beginning to change around the area.

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says that many fields are seeing both soybeans and corn begin to change from green to the dried out brown that means harvest is approaching. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that for the plants that aren’t quite to the point of drying out, there’s still plenty of water in the soil for them.

“We’re still very adequate when it comes to soil moisture, both in the topsoil as well as that intermediate and deeper soil moisture as well. Could we always use a little rain? Sure. But with corn, we’re kind of set where we’re at. That maturation process is moving along, so we should be fine. Soybeans can always use a little bit, but once we get into September, we’re really past that stage where a lot of that rain and that moisture is going to help us going through that with the moisture for the soils we had earlier in the year, that really does set us up good for the rest of the fall.”

Witt mentions that as farmers do prepare for harvest, it is important that they moisture test their crops, as over recent years there have been cases where grains are dried out enough, but that the soybean pods or kernels of corn don’t look like they’re dry enough. He adds that preparing equipment is also important at this time, and suggests going ahead and ordering any parts for areas where there is concern about needing to repair in the future.