Alfalfa hay harvest this fall was significantly delayed, and in many cases canceled, due to the unusually high number of rainy days throughout September. Excessive rainfall prevented many producers from taking a final cutting before winter. As temperatures cool and alfalfa begins to go dormant, some may be considering grazing those fields.

Wet weather has delayed harvest across much of Iowa, increasing the risk of grain sprouting and mold development before harvest. While sprouted grain is more common in small grains such as wheat, it can also occur in corn under the right environmental conditions, particularly when wet weather is combined with disease pressure.

Iowa has seen an extraordinary amount of rain over the last three months. Parts of central Iowa received 12 inches of rain in just two days in July, and September was one of the wettest on record, with some areas receiving more than 10 inches of precipitation and experiencing rainfall on more days than not. Beyond delaying harvests, all that water is showing up in perennial alfalfa fields as yellowing plants and bare spots, from flooding or prolonged periods of saturated soils. 

I have been sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to get into the field to harvest my silage research plots. In late August, I noticed so many fields being harvested for silage, but then the rain started. Now, driving across the state, there are half-harvested fields and fields that were set for silage still standing.

The Iowa State University (ISU) Crops Team has announced its 2026–2027 winter programming schedule and opened sponsorship opportunities for industry partners to support agronomic, conservation, and farm profitability education reaching thousands of stakeholders across Iowa and in other states. Sponsorships support programs that deliver research-based information to the agricultural community.

Significant engagement and proven impact from the 2025–2026 season include: