Last week most eyes were on the election, so we though we'd ask a question on the Farm Progress PANEL that didn't touch that topic at all. We wanted to get a sense of how harvest was going for everyone so that's what we asked.

What we found is that nearly 40% of respondents found that this year's harvest was about average. A small percentage, about 6%, admitted that 2020 was the best harvest they'd ever had.

We also wondered about how weather or other conditions may have impacted harvest and 15% say they got a late start, and felt it would be some time before they finished. Based on what Farm Progress has seen on Twitter and Facebook, that slowdown can come from weather, equipment issues or both.

Just over one-fifth note they're hoping for better results in 2021, and after the way 2020 went, this may not be a surprise to many.

Of course, we do get cheeky but did offer the choice "I'm not done, why ask me?" and just over 10% shared they had that sentiment.

Based on this it appears the 2020 harvest was probably about average for most folks, meaning some are late, some are ahead and some fell they'll never finish. As always, we know harvest is a crop payday and having that work out smoothly is important. Thanks to our respondents for their insights.

Joining the PANEL

The Farm Progress PANEL is a text-based survey farmers can sign up to participate. We are limiting participation, but there are still a few seats left. Taking part starts by registering up for the Farm Progress NOW mobile text alert system so you get top news each day. To do that, text FARM to 20505 and then be sure to answer the response text to confirm. After that, you'll see instructions for joining the PANEL when the FARM text arrives.

The Farm Progress NOW text service provides topical daily information right to your phone, including top news including USDA reports and market insights. Note that the text service may incur added charges to your smartphone bill.

RESPONDENTS AT GLANCE: Here's a look at the numbers for the harvest survey at a glance.