Iowa’s corn has experienced an unforgiving growing season. With the last breaths of summer in the air many wonder what it will take to maximize yields from this date forward. According to the recent USDA report, Iowa’s corn is about two weeks behind the five year average. Eleven percent is ready for a frost, 71 percent is in the dent stage. At beginning dent the crop normally needs about 3 weeks to mature. The bottom line - regardless of location in Iowa, the corn crop needs a normal or later than normal frost date to maximize yields.