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Soil type a difference maker for Iowa farmer

Differences in soil type are showing up as a farmer in southern Iowa begins harvest.

Mark Jackson of Oskaloosa says it was hot and dry from mid-July through the first half of August.

“And our crops were starting to go sideways and in some cases backwards, so we’re seeing some of that (now) at harvest where the good ground is really doing outstanding yield-wise. And the average or poor ground is just that (average to poor).”

He tells Brownfield soybean yields in heavier soils have been averaging better than 60 bushels per-acre.

“So we’re getting some really good yields. It would’ve been outstanding had we had some moisture during that maturity portion of that soybean because they kind of struggled. But seed quality is good.”

Jackson says a wind event in late August flattened corn and soybeans in his area, but most of his crops withstood it.