Rainfall Limited Iowa Crop Fieldwork Progress
Wet conditions restricted Iowa farmers to just over one day of fieldwork for the week ending September 27.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Current Conditions
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Heavy rainfall across Iowa limited farmers to only 1.1 days of fieldwork during the week ending September 27, 2026. Despite the weather, 75 percent of the state's corn and 74 percent of soybeans remain in good to excellent condition.
Why it matters
Field accessibility is critical for the harvest process, as farmers must wait for fields to dry to effectively operate combines. The limited window for activity reflects the impact of the 1.26 inches of statewide average rainfall recorded during the period.
Statewide average rainfall reached 1.26 inches with an average temperature of 59.8 degrees. Currently, 5 percent of corn and 3 percent of soybeans have been harvested across the state.
The players
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
This agency is responsible for producing official data and statistics regarding the agricultural economy of the United States.
The details
Farmers rely on the drying of fields to commence crop harvesting using combines. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service compiles this report weekly to track crop maturity, including the 97 percent of corn that reached the dent stage.
Timeline
September 20-27, 2026: Period covered by the crop and weather reports.
September 27, 2026: End date of the reported fieldwork week.
October 2026: Period when warm weather is expected to continue.
Seasonal Patterns
This reporting follows the established methodology of USDA crop progress reports to monitor agricultural development. The current data reflects a period of wet weather that contrasts with typical dry-down phases necessary for the annual harvest cycle.
Farmers should monitor field conditions closely as they await the drying process to begin full-scale harvesting. Warm weather forecasted for October may provide the necessary conditions to improve field accessibility and harvest speed.
The takeaway
The recent rainfall serves as a reminder that harvest timelines are highly dependent on short-term meteorological trends. Producers are now looking to the predicted warm October weather to provide the opportunity to increase harvesting momentum.
Further reading
For more on the current agricultural conditions, visit the /weather-disaster/current-conditions/ section.
More information
Access the latest data on statewide agricultural trends via the USDA crop progress reports.
Live Poll
Do you expect recent weather-related harvest delays to increase food prices in your area?
