Average temperatures for the week ending Sept. 14 were below normal, with frost reported across much of Iowa, but causing little damage, according to the Sept. 16 Iowa Crop & Weather report.

"Heavy rains continued to roll across the state, which limited any fieldwork, and the cool temperatures slowed crop development," said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. "Fortunately, most of the state avoided a killing frost and warmer temperatures this week will help crops continue to mature."

State Meteorologist Harry Hillaker said Iowa had the lowest temperatures (31 degrees in seven cities) recorded for so early in the season since a 29-degree reading near Elkader on Sept. 10, 1976.

Corn reached 83 percent in or beyond the dent stage, with 19 percent maturing. Leaves were changing color on 51 percent of soybeans, with the third cutting of alfalfa hay at 71 percent complete.

Overall, Virgil Schmitt, Iowa State University extension field agronomist, said this year’s crops "are very good, which is what the market is telling us, too. "In my southern counties, (south of Highway 92), I commonly hear that crops have never looked this good. I think the major issue is concern that late maturing of corn will demand a lot of drying.

"I think both corn and soybeans are performing well, and both have had some issues. Northern Corn Leaf Blight hit some susceptible corn hybrids on which fungicides were not applied," and "soybean sudden death syndrome showed up in late August, again south of I-80. It was late enough to not have much impact on yield in most fields, but probably took the top off the yield."