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Hot temps at tasseling are a concern for Iowa farmer

West-central Iowa farmer Jeff Frank says his corn crop is holding up pretty well through the recent hot and dry conditions.

“Things here aren’t terribly bad. We’re dry, of course, and we’re starting to pollinate, so we could use a shot,” Frank says. “But our ground where I farm is pretty heavy dirt, so we can stand it a little while longer than some of the lighter soils. The corn is rolling during the day on some of the lighter soils.”

Frank says his main concern right now is how the incessant heat might impact pollination.

“When we’re tasseling, we don’t like to see this heat like we’ve had. It’s doesn’t cool off enough at night. It’s not a good thing for the corn crop.”

Frank, who farms near Auburn, Iowa, also serves on the Iowa Soybean Association board of directors.