OSKALOOSA —
Despite the downpour Monday morning, Mahaska County remains in a drought. The impact on local crops is still being felt, as well.
Bob Wells, whose area of knowledge at the Mahaska County ISU Extension office centers around agriculture economics and farm management, explained.
Wells noted that most farmers in Mahaska County are wrapping up their harvesting efforts. He said dry conditions made for a “rapid” harvest this year.
Despite the ongoing drought, the soybean yields from Mahaska County were “fairly decent,” according to Wells. He added that this year’s soy bean yield is close to the 10-year average.
Corn is a different story.
Wells said corn crops have been “all over the board” and that a lot has depended upon what type of soil individual farmers have and how much rain their land received. He said the corn crop could be 10 to 15 percent below the 10-year average this year at 130 to 135 bushels per acre. However, test weights on corn were “extremely good,” said Wells.
On Monday morning, Mahaska County received roughly three-quarters of an inch of rain. Although this didn’t really impact the current harvest, is always good to get moisture into the ground before the first frost, said Wells.
In order to be in good shape for the spring planting season, Wells said the soil in Mahaska County still needs around 15 or 16 inches of precipitation.
With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting another dry winter in Iowa, Wells said there is some concern for what the moisture level will be at in the soil in spring.
It’s not all bad news.
Wells said that, financially speaking, many Mahaska County farmers are in good shape. He said over 90 percent have crop insurance.
Southeast Iowa
Related Photos
-
This field shows the impact of this year’s drought. Contributed photo
Drought continues to impact area
- Southeast Iowa
-
-
Kia Optima is a hit with the buying public
When it comes to midsized family sedans, the Kia Optima ranks high on my list for its good looks, economy and value.
-
The story behind the viral deer on a bus video
The way bus driver John Porter tells it, some of his co-workers now call him “John Deer.”
-
Identity-theft victim jailed on culprit’s warrant
Kurt Millard spent most of last weekend in jail, locked up on another man’s arrest warrant. The 26-year-old resident of Joplin, Mo. could not convince his jailers they had the wrong guy.
-
SLIDESHOW: Texas storms damage homes, uproot trees
After a series of tornadoes touched down outside Dallas, residents of many Texas communities are cleaning up.
-
VIDEO: Man hands out Abercrombie clothes on Skid Row in bid to shame brand
Anger has mounted online against clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch due to comments made by its chief executive and its strategy of not making women's clothing in any size above large.
-
Feces contaminates 58 percent of public swimming pools
Human feces taints more than half of public swimming pools, a finding U.S. health officials are using to urge better personal hygiene as the summer months approach.
-
VIDEO: Bombing suspect allegedly wrote confession in boat
Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev allegedly penned a note inside the boat where he was found hiding from authorities, explaining his rationale for his part in the deadly explosion.
-
MAP: Tornadoes carve across North Texas communities
As many as 10 tornadoes touched down soouthwest of Dallas, Texas on Wednesday.
-
Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
-
VIDEO: Texas tornadoes damage homes, businesses
The Dallas Morning News has the latest on the tornadoes that tore through the region Wednesday night.
- More Southeast Iowa Headlines
-
