Harvest is in full swing and it feels like we’re finally making good progress. We’ve bounced back and forth between corn and soybeans a couple of times in order to keep things rolling. Currently we are caught up with all the soybeans that are ready.
Last Saturday, we – literally – poked the combine into four different fields trying to find corn dry enough to run. It just didn’t happen, so we called it an early day and sent guys home. We would prefer to harvest corn in the 20 to 25% moisture range. We continue to hear that many farmers are harvesting corn at less than 20% moisture. (Remember, corn ideally needs to be at 15% moisture for long term storage. When harvesting at higher moistures, corn must be dried.)
We regrouped and headed in a different direction Monday. Despite some foggy and heavy dew mornings that delayed us, it has been full speed ahead.
Evaluating harvest losses
Rains and moderate temperatures are revealing how good of a job we have done harvesting so far.
Grain lost during harvest has begun to grow in the fields.
I think we’ve done an OK job on corn.
Soybeans are a different story. Soybeans are growing everywhere in the fields! Though some losses are inevitable, I feel bad and it looks bad.
All that green out there is lost revenue. Upon further inspection, many of those losses appear to be coming from the cutter bar. Some plants were podded too close to the ground and the pods were cut open and fell to the ground when the combine header brought the plants into the combine. There is very little a farmer can do about cutter bar losses.
Some other losses may have come by pushing the envelope on harvesting.
We will continue to check crop residue coming out the back of the combine to ensure all grain has been separated from the chaff. This is something a farmer has more control over.
Yields continue to run pretty average. Nothing has really stood out. Nothing has been bad. I guess I would say dryland yields on early planted soybeans have been better than expected. However, that means average. Expectations were low after 2 inches of rain in August and September.
About the Author
You May Also Like