Some Iowa farmers are facing cornstalk standability issues this harvest as drought conditions stress corn to the point where the plants have used all available resources to finish grain fill.

Experts are saying widespread standability issues in corn this year are likely a sign that the crop simply “ran out of gas” given the hot, dry conditions. The exact impact on yields across the state remains to be seen.

“In general, I am seeing poorer stalk quality than I would expect for this time of year,” said Rebecca Vittetoe, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach field agronomist in east-central Iowa. “It...