Soybeans mostly out, combines hitting corn in full stride
“To most people, this is just dirt. To a farmer, it is potential.” – Author Unknown.
And, during each growing season, the seed is sown, the rains and sunshine send those seeds to sprout, the crop is carefully cultivated – and when what is being grown has ripened, the result of all that – the potential – is harvested.
Charles P. Dewanz, Farm Management Advisor for Fairland Farm Management of Windom offers this update on harvest 2016:
Soybean harvest in the area can almost be called complete. Yields have been very strong and have exceeded pre-harvest expectations. The majority of average yields have been from 55-65 bushels per acre and set record yields for many individual farms. There have been a few outliers on both sides of the average range (40 to 75 bushels per acre). Late season weed control was much improved from 2015 as producers have become more skilled in managing resistance weed types.
According to the Minnesota Ag Statistics Service (MASS), 87% of the soybeans in Minnesota have been harvested as compared to 91% last year. This is slightly ahead of average but below last year’s pace. Nationally, 62% of the soybeans have been harvested versus 73% last year and the 5-year average of 63%.
The focus in the bean residue is now on soil sampling, applying fertilizer, and fall tillage in preparation of next year’s corn crop.
Meanwhile, corn harvest in the area is in full stride. Yield reports have been strong. Areas that received the brunt of the early season rains have many spots that did drown out. After replanting these spots in May, some produced nothing, while others produced 150-160+ bushels per acre. On well-drained soils, yields hit 200+ bushels per acre. Overall, preliminary farm yields are ranging from 185-205 bushels per acre and approaching/exceeding some of the record yields set in 2015.
Most of the corn in southwest Minnesota will be harvested within the next couple of weeks, barring any significant rain events. Average corn moisture at harvest is at 16%-19%. Eighty-six percent of the Minnesota crop is in the good to excellent category, which is three points below the 2015 level. Nationally, the corn crop is rated at 74% good-to-excellent. This compares to 68% at this time last year.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Monthly Supply and Demand Report, released on Wednesday, October 12, was basically neutral to the corn and soybean markets. USDA decreased projected national corn yields a bushel to an average of 173.4 bushels per acre. Expected soybean yields were increased by eight-tenths of a bushel to 51.4 bushels per acre. The report indicated a slight decrease in total production of corn, with soybean production increasing over two million bushels. Actual harvested acres remained unchanged from a month ago. Corn production in the United States is pegged at 15.0 billion bushels. Soybean production is estimated at 4.3 billion bushels.
Nationally, this will be a record corn and soybean crop. USDA estimate of 15.0 billion bushels of corn is up from the production estimate of 13.6 billion bushels in October 2015. As with the increase in corn production, soybean production is estimated at 4.3 billion bushels as compared to 3.9 billion bushels a year ago.