By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent

ANAMOSA, Iowa — The USDA’s September Crop Production report is “right on track with what we expected,” according to one Iowa Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) official.

“The summer recovery of the corn crop has been phenomenal,” said Anamosa corn grower Gary Edwards. “Despite the cool, wet weather this spring and extensive flooding, the crop is well on its way to become the third largest crop produced in Iowa and the second largest corn crop ever produced in this country.”

Released Sept. 12, the USDA said although overall production is expected to be down 2 percent from August, corn production is expected to be over 12 billion bushels, down 8 percent from last year’s crop. The USDA stated Iowa’s estimated corn yield, which was projected at a total production of 2.2 billion bushels in August, dropped from 171 to 168 bushels last month, down three bushels from last year’s yield.

Tim Recker, an Arlington farmer and president of the ICGA, said last month’s figures indicated that Iowa was on track to produce its third largest crop ever in 2008, despite late plantings and the June floods.

“This has been a rough year for many growers,” he said. “The good news is that all our hard work seems to be paying off as we near harvest. Despite all the challenges, we’re looking at good yields and strong production here in Iowa.”

Like Recker, Edwards said Iowa growers are confident they would have enough corn to supply the livestock industry, the ethanol industry and other markets such as the food industry.

“Once again, this proves the ability, through technology, planning and hard work, that the Iowa farmer has in producing a crop to meet the demands of the world,” he said.

The USDA stated U.S. soybean production is now projected at 2.9 billion bushels. Estimated in August to be the fourth largest production on record, this is down 1 percent from the August report, but still up 13 percent from last year’s crop. Iowa’s estimated soybean yield stayed unchanged from August, but nationally, the USDA lowered the number to 40 bushels per acre.

“Right now, our soybeans are maturing quickly,” said John Heisdorffer, a Keota soybean grower and president of the Iowa Soybean Assoc. “By the next report, we should be harvesting and should be able to better see what the crop is actually going to be.
Heisdorffer said soybean demand remains strong due to growing markets such as China, India and other parts of Asia, and Iowa and U.S. farmers are committed to meeting that demand.

“Though yields will likely be down some, it is a testament to farmers and today’s technology that crops still look amazingly good after a difficult season that included a late spring, flooding, replanting, a dry August and extremely high input costs,” he said.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey said heavy rainfall two weeks ago shortened the work week for many farmers, with the precipitation reducing moisture shortages in some areas and producing isolated but significant surpluses in parts of southern and southeastern Iowa.

“Much of the precipitation that fell across the state (two weeks ago) was welcomed,” he said, “but southeast Iowa got much more rain than they needed.

“Crops all across the state remain behind expected development and continue to need warm weather to reach maturity.”