Harvest and fieldwork activities were dampened due to rain during the week ending November 1, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers used the 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork to harvest corn for grain, harvest soybeans, work on fall tillage, install and repair tile and terraces, and apply dry fertilizer. Other activities included baling corn stalks, as well as manure hauling and spreading.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

Eighty-five percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, 10 days ahead of last year, and 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 8 days ahead of last year, but equal to normal. Although farmers in southwest and south central Iowa were able to harvest 10 percent of their soybean crop during the week, those were the only areas of the State where over 10 percent of the soybean crop remains to be harvested.
Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 57 percent moderate to heavy. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated 78 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was rated 69 percent adequate to surplus.

Hay and roughage supplies were rated 97 percent adequate to surplus. Livestock conditions were described as excellent, with reports of cattle being turned out to graze corn stalks.

Iowa Dept of Ag

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