Click the large green dots on the interactive map to see yield estimates. Smaller dots represent condition reports from throughout the spring and summer.  Note that the map may need to be refreshed to display all the locations.

Farmers are conservative by nature, and not just in politics. Growers typically show restraint in their first estimates of yields before combines start rolling. Instead of assuming the best, they wait until the proof is in.

That pattern appears in play this year once again. Growers reporting Feedback From The Field are bumping up yield estimates for corn and soybeans as the end of a fairly slow harvest finally begins to approach.

Farmers made better harvest progress so far in the eastern Corn Belt, where results are mixed, sometimes in the same area. (Photo: Vstock LLC/Thinkstock)

Early yield reports in August were only 156.2 bpa for corn and 44.5 bpa soybeans. September averages improved to 165.6 bpa for corn and 51.7 bpa for soybeans. So far in October gains kept on coming, with averages at 178.6 bpa corn and 56.1 soybeans

Another increase was posted over the past week, taking average for the entire period to 165.4 on corn and 50.8 for soybeans. Those are below USDA’s last estimate, which came in at 173.4 and 51.4.

New assessments continue to show a very wide range in results, from very good to very bad. A farmer in northern Alabama hurt by drought brought in corn yielding only 75 bpa, with soybeans just 16 bpa. But an Iowa producer reported 235 corn soybeans and 79 bpa soybeans. Yet the harvest has been a drawn out one for this and many other growers. The operation still had 25% of its soybeans to cut. ”Tough to get them dry enough,” said the grower, who farms on the northwest edge of the state. “Corn is testing 17% so we are switching back and forth between the two.”

Farmers made better harvest progress so far in the eastern Corn Belt, where results are mixed, sometimes in the same area.  A producer south of Kankakee, Illinois, not too far from the Indiana border said the farm’s 56-bpa soybeans were “good, but not great.” But at 221-bpa they brought in “by far best corn crop ever.”

Click this link to give us your own Feedback on 2016 yields.

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 17, 2016 - Yield reports improve as harvest grinds on

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 10, 2016 - Farmer reports suggest USDA too high on corn, too low on soybeans

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 30, 2016 - Famers report improving yields despite weather woes

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 23, 2016 - Yield variations reflect year of weather extremes

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 16, 2016 - Despite problems, growers report better yields

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 12, 2016 - Growers report concern about corn yields, soybeans look better

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 6, 2016 - Growers report wide range of corn and soybean yields

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 29, 2016 - Growers say crops are good, not great

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 19, 2016 - Growers say crops are good, bad and ugly

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 8, 2016 - Farmers say corn crop looks average, not great

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 3, 2016 - Farmers say don't judge the crop from the road

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 1, 2016 - Growers sound more optimistic about crops

Feedback from the Field - July 25, 2016 - Corn, soybean crops improve despite blast of heat

Feedback from the Field - July 20, 2016 - Heat backs West, but growers in East are worried

Feedback from the Field - July 18, 2016 - Growers report boom or bust conditions ahead of heat wave

Feedback from the Field - July 11, 2016 - Rains help improve corn and soybean conditions as heat wave approaches

Feedback from the Field - June 30, 2016 - Crop conditions ease as corn enters crucial test

Feedback from the Field - June 27, 2016 - Many areas still short of rain

Feedback from the Field - June 17, 2016 - Wheat looks great, but corn and soybeans start to wilt in the heat

Feedback from the Field - June 13, 2016 - Crops off to good start, but need rain

Feedback from the Field - June 8, 2016 - Growers say heat will help some crops, hurt others.

Feedback from the Field - June 6, 2016 - Crops improve, but growers see too much or too little rain

Feedback from the Field - May 31, 2016 - Corn slowly improves ahead of first USDA ratings

Feedback from the Field - May 25, 2016 - Goldilocks spring hard to find in Corn Belt

Feedback from the Field - May 23, 2016 - Corn Belt dries out a little as mid-May deadline arrives

Feedback from the Field - May 18, 2016 - Growers worry about frost damage from weekend's chill

Feedback from the Field - May 14, 2016 - Growers hope to get back into the field

Feedback from the Field - May 13, 2016 - Planting delays grab market's attention

Feedback from the Field - May 11, 2016 - It's deju vu all over again as wet weather continues

Feedback from the Field - May 9, 2016 - Weather challenges farmers in eastern Midwest

Feedback from the Field - May 3, 2016 - Growers say wet weather stalls planting

Feedback from the Field - May 2, 2016 - Some crops off to slow start as wet and cold hamper planting