USDA surprised the market, and likely many farmers, with its record yield forecast for corn Nov. 9. But growers reporting Feedback From The Field in October and November on average supported the agency’s estimates for both corn and soybeans.
Still, it’s understandable while many producers and traders are shaking their heads. An unusual growing season across much of the Corn Belt produced yields that look highly variable.
Corn yields reported last week range from just 65 bushels per acre in southern Wisconsin, all the way up to 245 bpa in northwestern Iowa. Soybean reports varied from 28 bpa in eastern Kansas to 78 bpa in western Illinois.
“Dryland corn was not very good, only yielded 67 bushels due to very little rain from end of May to the end of July,” said a Kansas grower. “Caught some August rain otherwise it would have been much worse.“
But more producers apparently agree with the one in southwestern Iowa who summed it up simply: “Good year.”
Commented a southern Minnesota grower: “My crops were planted past optimum dates because they are custom planted, still very good yields. Good rain in August helped finish the crop.”
Click this Feedback From The Field link to rate crops in your area and provide yield estimates in your fields. We’ll update reports with the interactive map below that lets you see what other growers are saying around the country. Click the box in the upper left-hand corner to bring up the weekly index; scroll down to see the most current week.
Follow season progress by clicking on the links below.
Feedback from the field - April 24, 2017 - Growers report slow start in northwest Corn Belt.
Feedback from the Field - April 28, 2017 - ‘Baby it’s cold outside’ isn’t the song farmers want to hear.
Feedback from the Field - May 8, 2017 - Emergence sputters as planting slows
Feedback from the Field - May 12, 2017 - Farms make progress but weather still an issue
Feedback from the Field - May 17, 2017 - Growers wary of this week’s new storms
Feedback from the Field - May 19, 2017 - Farmers face cold, wet end to May
Feedback from the Field - May 23, 2017 - Planting proceeds, questions remain
Feedback from the Field - May 26, 2017 - Some growers wonder if it will ever stop raining
Feedback from the Field - June 5, 2017 - Emerging drought threatens spring wheat crop
Feedback from the Field - June 7, 2017 - Progress, problems noted in early growing season
Feedback from the Field - June 12, 2017 - Conditions turned hot and dry last week
Feedback from the Field - June 19, 2017 - Rains improve conditions, but challenges remain
Feedback from the Field - June 26, 2017 - Crops improve but remain below average in year of extremes
Feedback from the Field - July 3, 2017 - Farmers report dire conditions on the northern Plains
Feedback from the Field - July 10, 2017 - Growers still say conditions are below USDA’s crop ratings
Feedback From The Field - July 17, 2017 - Too much or too little: No Goldilocks moment for U.S. crops
Feedback from the Field - July 31, 2017 - Growers say crops still suffering despite rain and cooler temperatures
Feedback from the Field - Aug. 7, 2017 - Growers note small improvement overall in corn and soybeans last week
Feedback from the Field - Aug. 14, 2017 - Crops improve but growers say yields are below USDA forecast
Feedback from the Field - Aug. 21, 2017 - Rain still crucial as growing season winds down
Feedback from the Field - Aug. 28, 2017 - Mild weather improves crops though problem pockets persist
Feedback from the Field - Sept. 5, 2017 - Growers report lower corn and soybean yields than USDA forecasts
Feedback from the Field - Sept. 11, 2017 - Yields look decent but lagging development raises red flag
Feedback from the Field - Sept. 18, 2017 - Growers beg to differ with USDA on size of crops
Feedback from the Field - Sept. 25, 2017 - Crops improve but still far below USDA estimates
Feedback from the Field - Oct. 2, 2017 - Farmers rate crops better, but yields lower
Feedback from the Field - Oct. 9, 2017 - Yield reports improve for corn and soybeans
Feedback from the Field - Oct. 16, 2017 - Weather challenges add up for some growers
Feedback from the Field - Oct. 23, 2017 - Open week gave growers better assessment of crops
Feedback from the Field - Oct. 30, 2017 - Farmer reports confirm good yields
Feedback from the Field - Nov. 6, 2017 - Crops survive litany of woes to post good, but not great, yields
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