A cool, wet summer and late start to planting have farmers concerned about their crops. According to the State Department of Agriculture, the corn harvest is on par with last year's, but soybeans are falling behind. They say only 20% of the soybean crop is out of the ground, that's 13% behind last year.
The corn sits lonely and wet in the fields, abandoned by frustrated farmers in yet another delay for this year's harvest.
"I had a grand plan but the weather is not keeping in line with my grand plan," says Central Iowa farmer Dan Golightly.
Farmers wanted to harvest this weekend, but snow ruined their plans. That snow, coupled with weeks of wet weather has farmers a month behind schedule.
"It's just enough make my harvest not work."
Soybeans moisture levels are at 16% right now, but farmers say they need to dry out to 13% before harvest. Corn is at 25%; however, it needs to be at 15% before harvest.
"I'm nervous about getting done. We could lose some of that if the weather doesn't change and get better," says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.
Every day, Central Iowa farmers anxiously turn on the TV to get the forecast. However, they say, f your livelihood depended on Mother Nature; you'd be obsessed with the weather as well.
"I would love to see temperatures in the 50's, sunshine, and a little bit of air moving with light breezes. That that would be fine," says Gollightly.
Farmers would like to get into the fields by next weekend. Until then, they'll be secretly doing a little sun dance.
Despite the weather, the corn crop here in Iowa is expected to be larger than last year by about 20%, but that's actually not good news for farmers. Reports that corn is mature and ready for harvest pushed down prices this week, but farmers point out that even though its' ready, that doesn't mean they can harvest it.
The corn sits lonely and wet in the fields, abandoned by frustrated farmers in yet another delay for this year's harvest.
"I had a grand plan but the weather is not keeping in line with my grand plan," says Central Iowa farmer Dan Golightly.
Farmers wanted to harvest this weekend, but snow ruined their plans. That snow, coupled with weeks of wet weather has farmers a month behind schedule.
"It's just enough make my harvest not work."
Soybeans moisture levels are at 16% right now, but farmers say they need to dry out to 13% before harvest. Corn is at 25%; however, it needs to be at 15% before harvest.
"I'm nervous about getting done. We could lose some of that if the weather doesn't change and get better," says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.
Every day, Central Iowa farmers anxiously turn on the TV to get the forecast. However, they say, f your livelihood depended on Mother Nature; you'd be obsessed with the weather as well.
"I would love to see temperatures in the 50's, sunshine, and a little bit of air moving with light breezes. That that would be fine," says Gollightly.
Farmers would like to get into the fields by next weekend. Until then, they'll be secretly doing a little sun dance.
Despite the weather, the corn crop here in Iowa is expected to be larger than last year by about 20%, but that's actually not good news for farmers. Reports that corn is mature and ready for harvest pushed down prices this week, but farmers point out that even though its' ready, that doesn't mean they can harvest it.
