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Cool, wet start dampens corn yields for southeast Iowa farmer

A farmer who grows corn and soybeans in the 20 percent of Iowa not impacted by drought this year says 2021 has not been without weather challenges.

Stan Nelson farms in Des Moines County in the southeast part of the state and tells Brownfield the growing season started out cool and wet.

“I planted all my beans in April and planting corn the first week of May you’d think you’re golden. But we had some cold, wet weather May 6th (through the) 8th and I had to replant half my corn just from corn chilling.”

He says the replanted corn looks great, but yields won’t be above trend-line.

“I’m about 20 percent done harvesting and the corn in the same field, my monitor can go from 250 (bushels per-acre) to 150 or less (because) of conditions at planting.”

Nelson calls his soybeans “phenomenal” with yields about 10 percent above APH.