According to the latest crop progress report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), corn is maturing slower than historical averages in Iowa. As a result, this may delay harvests and increase the risk of disease and damage from frost.
The USDA report, which was released on Sept. 22, shows that Iowa farmers planted 91 percent of the 2013 corn acreage. About 19 percent of corn was mature as of the week ending on Sept. 14. This is compared to 32 percent during the week of Sept. 21 in 2013, and an average of 60 percent between 2009 and 2013.
“If we’re just getting into maturity now, in three weeks we’ll be in the first or second week of October, which brings frost risk,” Mark Licht, cropping systems agronomist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, stated on the Iowa State University website. “Depending on when the killing frost comes, we may have it before we reach full maturity. I don’t want to sound the fire alarm, but we’re at the stage where we need to be aware.”
Licht went on to say that the slow maturity is the result late planting in the spring and cool weather throughout the growing season. He also warned that disease could eventually strike crops, but this is not yet a crisis situation.
Some frost has been reported in areas of the state with lows dipping down to 33 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist for Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Currently, soil moisture remains steady across the state, and 92 percent of the state’s corn crop is beyond the dent stage.