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‘Variable’ describes Iowa corn yields

Extremely variable—that’s how many farmers are describing their corn yields so far.

Myron Ehresman, who farms near Anamosa in east-central Iowa, began combining his 1,100 acres of stressed corn last weekend.

“In some places it’s making 200 bushels—but on the same row, same variety, not too far away, it might only be making 10,” Ehresman says,  “and it seems like those areas where it’s only making 10 to 30 are a lot bigger than those areas where it’s making 180 to 200.”

Ehresman says the corn planted on the lighter, sandy soils doesn’t have any ears to speak of.

Dave Miller is in Lucas County in south-central Iowa.  He says their corn has been averaging 75 to 80 bushels per acre, but with lots of variability in both yield and moisture.

“There are spots as low as 40 (bushels) and probably some spots up in the 120 range—and there’s variability just going down the row,” Miller says.  “You’ll probably be running 13.5 to 14.0 moisture and then all of a sudden you’ll hit a patch that’s probably at 20—but those tend to be short-lived and then you’re back to some real dry corn.”

Miller, who is also the research director for Iowa Farm Bureau, says their most recent load tested at 13.5 percent moisture.

Radio Iowa contributed to this report.