DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“The warm and dry weather is helping to push Iowa’s corn and soybean crop toward maturity as harvest gets underway across the state. These conditions have also been helpful to farmers who are chopping silage, baling hay, seeding cover crops, and getting equipment and bins ready,” said Secretary Naig. “Looking ahead, forecasts indicate that the warm temperatures will continue this week with rain chances trending back into the picture.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Warm, and continued dry conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 14, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included finishing up the third cutting of hay, harvesting corn silage and preparing for row crop harvest.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 22 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.
Ninety percent of corn was dented or beyond, 5 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of the five-year average. Forty-eight percent of corn has matured, 4 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of average. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 59 percent good and 20 percent excellent. Soybeans coloring advanced to 73 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of average. Thirty-five percent of soybeans were dropping leaves. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 57 percent good and 18 percent excellent.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 96 percent complete. Pasture condition rated 63 percent good to excellent.
