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Lack of precipitation creates additional challenges for farmers

A technical agronomist says the lack of precipitation this fall has created some challenges for farmers wanting to do fall fieldwork.

Channel’s Jeremy Miner, who covers southeast Iowa, says producers have had to think twice about fall-applied nitrogen.  “We just don’t have a lot of moisture in the soil right now, that would make it worth going out there, trying to get that soil to seal to keep that nitrogen in,” he says.  “Just not a good time to be thinking about that. So there are guys contemplating what to do now. Maybe even looking for spring applications if they can and getting things booked for that.”

He tells Brownfield fall burndown has a similar story.  “Guys are looking at their worst field for weed control and then just really trying to determine whether or not it’s worth doing it now,” he says.  “Or going out maybe earlier in the spring and putting a good pre down and just keeping things under control.”

Miner says corn and soybean harvest is about half completed and he’s been a bit surprised by the crop considering the lack of rainfall in his area. “Quality has been really good on both corn and soybeans,” he says.  “Nothing really major to report there.  Test weights have been really good and actually yields overall, I would say, for both, corn and soybeans have really been better than expected.”

He says some parts of his coverage area are about 5 to 10 inches below normal for annual precipitation.

AUDIO: Channel Techincal Agronomist Jeremy Miner