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Adverse weather pushes down yield estimates

Bryce Knorr, Contributing market analyst

September 16, 2019

4 Min Read

How are your crops faring this year? What are your hopes for yields? We’re asking growers about what’s really happening in their fields. Click the Feedback From The Field reporting form and give us your first-hand account on conditions and yields.

Use the interactive map below to see all this year’s reports just by clicking the flagged locations. Click the box in the upper left-land corner of the map to bring up an index of what the different colors of the markers signify and to toggle the week’s reports on and off.

Combines aren’t rolling yet to harvest corn and soybeans. But many growers fear the worst as a difficult growing season winds down. While a few parts of the country escaped the ravages of floods, drought, heat and cold, growers posting Feedback From The Field last week remain concerned their crops won’t mature in time before killing frost hits.

“This cool weather that we are currently experiencing is great for working outdoors but is putting the already late crops even further behind,” wrote a producer from northwest Ohio who expects only 120-bushel corn and 20-bushel soybeans.

Indeed, farmers continue to project yields significantly below USDA’s updated estimate last week. Their crop ratings also slipped and are now barely above average.

The list of problems cited by farmers is long. In northwest Indiana lack of rain after spring floods are the issue.

“Almost no measuring rain going back to first week of July,” said one Hoosier. “A lot of tip-back in corn and bean pods are flat with little seed.”

Further west in northern Illinois a farmer said the view from the road is deceiving.

“Crops do not appear bad but are still very green with no hint of turning toward harvest,” was the report. “When you go in the field, there are very good ears in the corn and some very poor. Soybeans seem to be more even, but short on some pods towards the top.”

But not all areas are struggling. Growers who planted crops on time are looking for decent, if not great yields.

“Corn is mature,” said a farmer from west central Iowa with moisture at 31%. “Beans are turning yellow.”

And a producer in central Kentucky was looking for 200-bushel corn and 65-bushel soybeans. “Near perfect growing season,” summed it up.

Follow along with the season by clicking these links:

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 9, 2019 - Crops improve despite slow development and stress

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 3, 2019 - Crops improve despite slow development and stress

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 19, 2019 - Crops improve but yields lag

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 12, 2019 - Yields are here, there and everywhere 

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 5, 2019 - Farmers worry that yields aren’t there

Feedback from the Field - July 29, 2019 - Crops improve after heat breaks

Feedback from the Field - July 22, 2019 - Blazing heat wilts crops

Feedback from the Field - July 15, 2019 - Hot, dry week stresses soybeans

Feedback from the Field - July 8, 2019 - Crops improve but development lags on late planting

Feedback From The Field - July 1, 2019 - Crops improve but development lags on late planting

Feedback From The Field - June 24, 2019 - Planting woes aren’t only worry for growers

Feedback From The Field - June 17, 2019 - Acres lost to corn prevent plant mount

Feedback from the Field - June 10, 2019 - Judgement time: Take prevent plant or keep going?

Feedback from the Field - June 3, 2019 - Corn planting deadlines pass as farmers ponder what to do

Feedback from the Field - May 28, 2019 - Growers make progress, but at what cost?

Feedback from the Field - May 20, 2019 - Warm, dry week gets growers in the field as crucial benchmarks arrive

Feedback from the Field - May 13, 2019 - Wet is the word for 2019.

Feedback From the Field - May 6, 2019 - Some farmers in western areas make progress but overall planting remains slow.

Feedback From the Field - April 29, 2019 - Farmers in eastern Corn Belt and upper Midwest face delays.

Feedback From the Field - April 22, 2019 - A few wheels turned but most of the Corn Belt is too wet.

About the Author(s)

Bryce Knorr

Contributing market analyst, Farm Futures

Bryce Knorr first joined Farm Futures Magazine in 1987. In addition to analyzing and writing about the commodity markets, he is a former futures introducing broker and Commodity Trading Advisor. A journalist with more than 45 years of experience, he received the Master Writers Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association.

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