Midwest Harvest Delays
Persistent Midwest Rains Delay Harvests and Threaten Crop Quality in Several States
Anonymous
Persistent fall rain is delaying harvest across parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and the broader Midwest, leaving farmers with fewer opportunities to get into wet fields. In northwest Missouri, heavy downpours have led to kernels sprouting in corn, raised concerns about soybean pods dropping, and threatened the quality and amount of grain farmers can harvest despite promising yield checks earlier in the season. More rain could worsen field conditions and crop-quality risks, though it may also ease drought stress in parts of the Plains and Texas. The delays are adding pressure for farmers already navigating tighter margins and input costs.
Key Points
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Before the rain set in, an unseasonably warm late August and early September had suggested harvest might begin early in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.
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In northwest Missouri, agronomist Erin Marlow said she had never experienced a fall harvest like this in her professional career. She also said she had not yet heard of soybean pods shattering, but expected some could drop if fields dried out.
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A report said the remnants of Hurricane Polo were moving northeast through the Midwest after crossing northern Mexico; forecasts called for localized rainfall of 4–8 inches in the hardest-hit areas and 2–4 inches across a broad part of the Ohio Valley.
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The Farm Progress report said the system had reached Category 5 strength within 24 hours of forming as a tropical storm on September 21, with peak winds of 180 mph.
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