The continued dry spell of the lack of moisture in the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area, farmers continued to progress forward with their crops.

According to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, farmers had an average of 5.7 suitable field days last week. 

ISU Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says that in Guthrie County crops have been doing well under the drought conditions, but soybeans and corn have been impacted the most. 

“You’ll notice that soybeans are shorter due to that moisture reduction also have to do with chemical damage across the County. With corn again what it has done it has delayed it a little bit but we might have some shorter corn as well.”

Witt says that it is getting into the corn pollination window and it is critical that the moisture comes through. 

Witt adds,farmers are seeing dicamba spray damage in soybeans and are encouraged to contact their local extension officer or local agronomist. Witt says the most prevalent pest this time of year is the Japanese Beetle, compounding the pest issue with the current drought is an increase in spider mites.