As harvest is starting to wrap up in Iowa and the cooling temperatures are making their appearance right in time for fall activities, it’s time to think of our next field operation, anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is an effective nitrogen fertilizer for Iowa corn production, but successful application takes more than an open field and available equipment.

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 stuck.

The recent rains have slowed or put a delay on harvest really getting underway across the state. When conditions allow, harvest will really ramp up. At the end of the day, the most important measure of a successful harvest is ensuring everyone returns home safely. National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 21-25, 2026, serves as an important reminder of why safety matters.  

Corn and soybean harvest is when months of management decisions finally come together. While getting the crop out in a timely manner is important, harvest performance should be measured by more than acres per hour.

A properly adjusted combine can help reduce grain loss, maintain grain quality, collect better yield data and evenly distribute residue for next year’s crop. Today’s combines also offer more automation to help operators maintain performance as field conditions change.

From industrial applications to hobbyist platforms, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, have rapidly integrated into the agricultural landscape. Equipped with high-resolution sensors, these aerial platforms have fundamentally altered how modern production agriculture monitors crop development.