Crop yields are coming in well in Iowa, but stalk stability is a different situation.
An Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist is calling it “cannibalization.” She says the plant is doing everything it can to grow, but then it starts eating away at the stalk until it has issues standing. The high winds in the Midwest region as of late are also not helping.
When corn stalks are knocked down, harvest becomes tricky for farmers, forcing them to work at a slower pace. Soybean harvest is also complicating the season since much of the crop is ready to be harvested now, which just leaves more time for the wind to knock corn down.
We did the last of our beans this morning. Soybean harvest took exactly 30 days. Hopefully corn harvest goes a lot better. #harvest23 #drought23 pic.twitter.com/FQxxkb0gPo
— Tom Hiler (@ethanolcowboy) October 11, 2023
Tom Hiler is in Rockwell, Iowa, and he had to start with soybeans this year before they got any drier. He shared this post showing his farm has completed the soybean harvest. It took a full 30 days to wrap and he is hoping that the corn harvest will be an easier feat.
With harvest season comes increased stress for our nation’s producers. Michigan State University Extension wants to remind farmers to use weather breaks to reduce those feelings. The organization says instead of worrying about the work not getting done, take the time to breathe or do something fun with your family.
MSU also offers farmers a tele-therapy program to help mitigate farm stress and they want everyone to know that they are not alone during this time or the only one facing increasing pressure and stress.
