The Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service this week states, Row crop harvest remained ahead of average as Iowa’s farmers had 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 20th. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans, fall tillage, and applying manure and fertilizer. Dry conditions resulted in field and equipment fires being reported during harvest. Nearly all of Iowa’s corn crop reached the mature stage or beyond. Harvest of the corn for grain crop reached 68 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans harvested reached 91 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Farmers in northern Iowa, as well as west central and east central, have already harvested 94 percent or more of their soybeans. Pasture conditions fell another 8 percentage points to 22 percent good to excellent this week. Ponds and creeks in pastures are drying up as pastures go dormant due to the dry conditions. Some cattle are being turned into corn stalk fields.