WAVERLY - Iowa's corn crop may be the biggest ever but not necessarily one of the best.

Reports of mold and low test weights may tarnish what's supposed to be a record-setting average yield of 188 bushels per acre. Both problems could lead to rejected or discounted loads at elevators and processors.

Monday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report indicates harvest is moving along at a snail's pace. Only 54 percent of the state's soybeans are combined and 18 percent of corn. Harvest is about a month behind schedule.

Getting the crops out before the snow flies isn't the only thing producers have to worry about. Crop experts say several types of mold, such as cladosporium and trichoderma, have been found on corn ears throughout Northeast Iowa. Some kinds of mold can be harmful to livestock.

Low corn test weights from 50 to 55 pounds per bushel are also common in the area. A bushel of corn is supposed to weigh 56 pounds.

As semi- and wagonloads of corn arrived at Schneider's Milling Inc. in Waverly on Monday, owner Rick Schneider said farmers are worried about quality.

"It's not a perfect crop. They're going to spend a lot drying it and may get docked for lighter test weights ... possibly 8 to 10 cents (per bushel)," Schneider said.

Crop specialists say there are several reasons behind the wet and lower quality corn:

Cold, wet weather occurred during the first and latter part of the growing season.

A killing frost - which happened at the normal time - occurred before all the corn was black layered or fully mature.

Several hail storms damaged crops, taking away yields and making plants more susceptible to disease.

"It's still one of the biggest crops, but local farmers have to deal with a lot of issues," said Brian Lang, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist based in Decorah. "I've talked to a couple farmers who are pretty stressed with the situation."

The report said grain driers are running nonstop across the state. Some elevators are rejecting wet soybeans and poor-quality corn.

On average, the report said corn in the field is averaging 26 percent moisture and 23 percent coming out. Schneider said he gets a load at 30 percent every day.

As of Sunday, the crop condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 52 percent good and 20 percent excellent. Numbers are similar for soybeans.

Joe Kerns, owner of Risk Assessment and Management in Ames, said he's keeping a close eye on the crop for client Iowa Select Farms of Iowa Falls. Kerns is in charge of purchasing for the hog producer, which uses about 25 million bushels of corn a year.

Certain molds can cause abortions in sows.

"It's a much more heightened sense of awareness given the growing parameters of the crop and delay in harvest," Kerns said.