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Corn yields dependent on planting date in central Iowa

An agronomist in central Iowa predicts yields will depend on planting date this fall.

Matt Nelson with Channel Seed says corn and soybean development is behind because of cool, wet weather in the spring.

“We’re going to be late to finish. And then after that early moisture we turned dry, and now here in the last couple of weeks we finally started to pick up some moisture and really beautiful weather for grain fill. So I think the potential here is still good, but it’s really going to vary depending on when you planted.”

Speaking to Brownfield at the Farm Progress Show near Boone, he says most of the corn in central Iowa has started to dent.

“So we’re at 25 (or so) days to reach maturity, so I think most people are going to reach the finish line okay. And this weather, an 80-degree day, it’s going to help us get there.”

Nelson says while corn rootworm has not been much of a problem in his area this year, there is significant pressure to the west.