Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA
07-31-07
Iowa's oat harvest nears the end
By MATTHEW WILDE, Courier Staff Writer
CHARLES CITY --- Combines, though in small numbers, are rolling in Northeast
Iowa harvesting a bountiful oat crop.
Despite worries of a short crop due to delayed plantings, farmers and crop
experts say area oat yields are better than expected. Some fields are producing
100 bushels per acre and test weights up to 38 pounds per bushel.
Monday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report said 70
percent of Iowa's oat crop is in bins or off to market. That's 4 percent behind the
five-year average.
Iowa farmers only planted 140,000 acres, the smallest crop ever. The 70,000acre reduction was the largest drop in the nation. Not all oats is harvested for
grain. Some is green chopped for livestock feed.
Tom Brunner, who farms near Charles City, finished combining oats two weeks
ago. He has 26 acres and custom combines another 20. Yields ranged from 63
bushels per acre on extremely sandy soils to near 100 bushels on slightly better
ground.
Test weights ranged from 35 to 38 pounds per bushel. Anything less than 33, he
said buyers may start to dock paychecks.
"We had real good test weights this year," said Brunner. "Last year you needed
heavier ground to get good oats. This year was just the opposite."
Some farmers had a tough time planting oats in the spring due to cold, wet
conditions. However, the weather cooperated for the cool-season small grain
during the growing season.
As of Sunday, the crop statewide was rated zero percent very poor, 5 percent
poor, 33 percent fair, 53 percent good and 9 percent excellent.
After last year's disastrous crop, Brunner said this year's yields were needed.
Yields last year were in the 40s.
"That was the worst oats I ever raised in my life," Brunner said.
Prices are good --- September oats on the Chicago Board of Trade was $2.57 a
bushel on Monday --- and demand for straw is excellent, Brunner said. He was
paid a $1.50 per bale and the purchaser baled it. Brunner contracted oats with
The Mill in Nashua. Without divulging an exact figure, Brunner said he made out
considerable better than if he sold on the spot market.
Not everyone was as fortunate. George Cummins, Iowa State University
Extension crop specialist based in Charles City, said hail shredded an oat
field near Protivin, Yield loss was 100 percent.
"All that was left was straw," Cummins said.
The state's corn crop is progressing well, experts said. Cummins said most winddamaged corn will still produce good ears but combining will be a challenge in
the fall.
Corn in the milk stage (kernel development) is at 43 percent statewide, the report
said. The crop is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 45
percent good and 15 percent excellent.
While digging corn roots last week checking for rootworms, Cummins said he's
counted ears, kernel rows and kernels developing per row. In many instances, he
said the numbers are adding up to 200-bushel corn.
"A couple more rains and we'll have piles," Cummins said.
Soybean aphid and bean leaf beetle presence and pressure continue to
increase. Some fields are exceeding economic threshold levels to warrant
spraying. Brian Lang, a ISU Extension crop specialist in Decorah, estimated
70 percent of soybean fields will need to be sprayed.
"At this time, I don't think my percentage would be nearly that high. It will depend
on what happens the next three weeks," Cummins said
Soybeans are setting pods at a rate of 61 percent, 6 points behind the five-year
average. The crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 27 percent fair,
52 percent good and 14 percent excellent.
Some livestock are being fed hay to supplement poor pastures. Flies and insect
populations continue to pester animals.
Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.