With November in full swing, the corn and soybean harvest around the state is nearing completion, and some Marshall County yields are exceeding farmers’ expectations after a dry late summer.

“Corn yields were above average and, I would say, for the most part, soybeans were below average,” said Ferguson farmer Dave Scott of his harvest this year. “I think it was a surprise to everyone this year, with all the dry weather we had.”

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Mark Johnson, whose designated region includes Marshall County, said many farmers in a particular region of Central Iowa are seeing high yields.

“There are portions of Story, Marshall, Polk and Jasper (counties) where the corn is actually exceeding last year’s (harvest),” he said. “We’ve got a lucky little pocket there.”

He said there are many reasons for the yield numbers in that region, and that one factor may have been good soil conditions earlier this year.

“In June, the roots really take off and will not grow in saturated soil,” Johnson said. “We never had saturated soil, so we got tremendous root growth; so, when we got into dryer areas, they were able to tap a lot more cubic feet of soil for water and nutrients.”

In addition, Johnson said insects and disease were not big problems for area farmers. A lucky patch of rain may also have helped.

“In that four-corner area, I think they must’ve caught a rain somewhere in July or August that other people didn’t,” he said.

Scott also said good early-season conditions may have helped boost this year’s yields.

“We had a nice spring … we got off to a nice start,” he said. “I think some of the credit has to go to these new (seed) hybrids they’ve developed for us.”

Scott said all of his fields have been harvested, adding there are small patches left to be harvested in the area.

“Beans are virtually done,” Johnson said. “Corn is rapidly getting there.”

He said, depending on the weather Friday, 90-95 percent of the area’s corn could be harvested around early next week.

Scott said one disappointing factor this harvest is crop prices.

“The prices are a lot lower than usual; right now, we’re running below our cost of production,” he said, adding “It seems like when everything is at a low point, something happens that turns it around.”

Overall, Johnson said many area farmers are pleased with this year’s yields.

“Most people did not exceed last year, but it was still one of their better years ever, so they’re still pretty happy,” he said. “An awful lot of the people had beans that were better than they expected, not far off from their best.”

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Contact Adam Sodders at (641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com