Washington County Extension

When the Pit Is Full and the Field Is Wet September 22, 2026 Content Author: Daniel Andersen There is a point every fall when manure management starts to feel less like agronomy and more like logistics, or, in a few years, panic. The crop is ready, or at least getting ready, to come out. The manure pit keeps getting fuller. The forecast has...

Wet fall conditions can mean more than just a slower soybean harvest.

When soybeans remain in the field during wet conditions, seed quality can become a concern. Knowing what to watch for and understanding your options can help you make better harvest and management decisions.

If you have soybeans still standing, take a few minutes to read this timely information from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Soybean Seed Quality Issues During a Wet Fall
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/washington/soybean-seed-quality-issues-during-wet-fall

🌾 Stay safe, keep an eye on crop conditions, and have a good harvest!

Soybean seed quality issues during a wet fall September 29, 2026 Content Author: Daren S Mueller Soybean seed diseases are showing up across Iowa, which isn’t surprising considering the wet weather experienced in parts of the state over the past month (Fig 1). The rain is a double whammy for farmers this time of year as it favors continued fu...

Stuck equipment? Take a breath before you pull.

Harvest is already stressful enough. When a combine, grain cart, tractor, or truck gets stuck, it can be tempting to hook up and pull as quickly as possible. But taking a few extra minutes to plan a safe recovery can help prevent equipment damage or, more importantly, serious injury.

Before you hook up the chain, cable, or recovery rope, take time to think through the recovery.

Check out this timely article from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Washington County on making safe equipment recovery decisions during harvest:

A few extra minutes can make all the difference. Stay safe this harvest!

Stuck at Harvest? Take the Time to Make a Safe Equipment Recovery September 25, 2026 Content Author: Doug Houser, Luke Fuhrer Wet field conditions can create significant challenges during harvest. Temporary ponds, saturated low areas and wet spots that may look firm from the combine or tractor cab can quickly turn into places where heavy harvest equipment becomes....

Talkin' Crap from ISU Extension and Outreach Manure Management. El Nino's impact on fall Manure Applications

Episode Player Dan Andersen discusses managing nitrogen and manure application in response to potential weather impacts caused by an El Ninõ event. 

Rain for days. Good article from Farm Journal's Pork.

‘It’s Absolutely Insane’: Record Rainfall Squeezes Fall Manure Application for Midwest Pork Producers Saturated soils and back-to-back storms are leaving Iowa farmers with full manure storage and unworkable ground, but experts say it’s not time to panic yet.

A quick phone call now could make a difference later.

Crop insurance is an important part of managing risk on the farm. Taking a few minutes to touch base with your crop insurance agent can help make sure you understand your coverage and are prepared for what may come.

Before you get too far down the road, it may be worth a phone call to your crop insurance agent.

Read more from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Washington County:

crops.extension.iastate.edu

Got some downtime while everything dries? Rebecca's Crop Connection is here to water your brain with knowledge instead!

The Crop Connection Newsletter - September 2026 Harvest has been at a standstill with the persistent wet conditions. It is nice to see the sun shining today! While it looks like another wet week, the extended forecast is calling for “below average rainfall” — fingers crossed! As we wait for fields to get fit, lodging, grain quality, germina...

📸 A day full of learning, hands-on activities, and important safety lessons!

Our 5th graders had a great time at Ag Safety Day, rotating through stations and learning how to make safe choices around the farm, at home, and in their communities. From grain bins and ATVs to animals, fire safety, first aid, and more, students had the opportunity to learn from local experts and put safety knowledge into action!

A huge THANK YOU to all of our presenters for sharing your time, knowledge, and real-world experiences with our students! Your support helps make Ag Safety Day a valuable experience for our 5th graders. 🌾🚜

Take a look at some of the fun and learning from the day! 📸

🌧️ Flooding Resources for Iowans

With the heavy rainfall and flooding we’ve experienced across Iowa recently, we want to make sure individuals, families, and communities know where to find reliable information.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has resources to help you prepare for and recover from flooding:
🔗 https://www.extension.iastate.edu/disasterreadiness/floods

The Iowa DNR has also shared important information on flood safety, cleanup, debris disposal, and private wells affected by floodwater:
🔗 https://www.iowadnr.gov/news-release/2026-09-18/heavy-rainfall-causes-flooding-several-communities-residents-urged-stay-safe-and-follow-cleanup

Please stay safe and use caution around floodwaters and during cleanup.

Heavy rainfall causes flooding in several communities, residents urged to stay safe and follow cleanup guidelines Heavy rainfall leads to flooding in several communities, residents urged to stay safe and follow cleanup guidelines.