SHELL ROCK -- Combines are rolling in Northeast Iowa as the oat harvest is well under way.

Though two weeks later than normal, farmers are generally pleased with the results. Yield and test weights are considered normal to near normal.

Monday's weekly U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report said Iowa's oat harvest is 42 percent complete. The five-year average is 88 percent.

Larry Neuhaus of rural Shell Rock, who farms with his brother and son, started combining oats on Friday.

Usually the crop is in the bin by now, he said. A cold, wet spring delayed planting and development like all crops in the state.

"I don't care what line of work you're in, the weather is grabbing all of you," Neuhaus said.

Still, he's optimistic for a decent crop. Some oat fields were partially flooded, and the cool-season grain typically doesn't care for hot and muggy days of July and August.

The report said the state's oat crop is rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 46 percent good and 11 percent excellent.

"I'm hopeful for the 80 to 90 bushel range," said Larry Neuhaus of rural Shell Rock, who farms with his brother and son. "Depending on the price and demand, it (oats) can have a fair return."

Oat prices are about double compared to a few years ago. Voorhies Grain, a private elevator and feed mill in southwest Black Hawk County, is paying about $3 bushel.

The business plans to buy about 10,000 bushels.

Voorhies employee Patti Richardson said they're still waiting for trucks and wagons to arrive filled with oats.

"We usually have some by the end of July for sure, so it's really late. I hope the rest (corn and soybeans) aren't this late, or else it's going to be a long harvest," Richardson said.

The Neuhauses have about 180 acres, which is considered a good amount these days as corn and soybeans dominate the landscape.

In Iowa, 160,000 acres of oats was planted this year compared to 13.2 million acres of corn, according to government statistics.

Though oats may not be as profitable as corn and soybeans at times, Neuhaus said it's part of the family's normal crop rotation. Including oats helps break up pest and weed cycles and lowers fertilizer costs, he said.

"The pattern seems to help on a number of fronts," Neuhaus said.

The report said hot and humid weather has helped crops to mature. Eighty-nine percent of corn is tasseled, which is 9 days behind the five-year average. Seventy-three percent is silked and 20 percent in the milk stage.

Compared to a couple of weeks ago, Readlyn dairy farmer Ron Strottman said he's pleased with corn development. In fact, he expects to be chopping silage within a month.

"It's really grown in the last few weeks. The corn is looking good but uneven," Strottman said.

Uneven stands due to the poor start to the growing season and excess moisture in early June will cut down on tonnage. Strottman is hopeful for 25 to 25 tons per acre instead of the usual 28 to 30.

Soybean aphids are beginning to show up in numbers warranting spraying. Fungicide and herbicide applications are also taking place.

Eighty-three percent of soybeans are in bloom, the report indicated. Soybeans setting pods is at 48 percent, which is 10 days behind normal.

The crop is rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 48 percent good and 14 percent excellent.

Contact Matthew Wilde at

(319) 291-1579 or

matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.