Almost all of Iowa’s corn and soybeans have been harvested as of the latest and final USDA crop update for 2023. Harvest for both crops concluded about a week ahead of the five-year average, primarily due to late-summer heat and drought conditions. But did adverse weather impact yields? Not as much as you’d think. Yields fared surprisingly well, given the conditions.

USDA predicts Iowa corn yields will average about 200 bushels per acre and soybeans at 58 bushels per acre, on par with production reported last year. Dry conditions have been static, with the agency reporting about 33% of the state’s topsoil and 27% of its subsoil has adequate moisture heading into winter. The Climate Prediction Center says drought conditions are expected to remain until at least the end of February.

Read more on Iowa harvest conditions and yields here.