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NW Iowa soybean yields better than expected

Reports of higher-than-expected soybean yields are coming out of northwest Iowa.

Iowa State University Extension crops specialist Joel DeJong says yields are ranging from 60 bushels per acre to the upper 70’s.

“The range is pretty wide, like it is every year. But, in general, the range seems to be a little higher than it has been,” DeJong says, “and 60’s and 70’s, both of those, seem fairly common from the discussions I’ve had.”

DeJong says moisture levels have been ideal for the beginning of the harvest season.

“I was seeing 12 to 12½ coming out. I haven’t heard any 10’s or 9’s get, like we’ve had in some years. Hopefully our humidity stays higher so that bottom level stays a little higher. But as we dry out and if we get some windy days, we could see those numbers drop.”

DeJong estimates that at least 10 percent of the soybeans have been harvested in northwest Iowa.

Dennis Morrice-KLEM, Le Mars, IA contributed to this story.