Even average weather is never really average according to meteorologists, who note how normal masks the wide variation nature provides. That certainly seems to be the case in 2017, where an up and down growing season is winding down with harvests that are slow to be sure.

Farmers reporting Feedback From The Field last week lowered their assessment of corn, but bumped soybeans up a little. They put average corn yields at 169.7 bpa in a range from 90 to 225, with soybeans at 51.1, ranging from 30 to 71.

“Very, very bad year in Western Iowa,” said a grower there who put corn at 165 bpa and beans at just 35 bpa. “Worst crops since the drought.”

Untimely rains frustrated attempts to control weeds in some areas. Wind was a problem elsewhere, with more damage reports coming in from a recent event in Nebraska.

“High winds took its toll on yields,” reported a grower there.

Still, crops appear to have survived the troubles in many areas. “Wet spring followed by dry summer and fall,” reported a Pennsylvania grower who nonetheless was averaging 175 bushel corn through the first quarter of the crop. “Very surprised by the good yields so far.”

A producer in Iowa reported 200 bpa corn and 55 bpa soybeans despite the challenges. “Caught some early July rain, very narrow 2-inch band of precip that that helped push the crop through to some August filling rains.”

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