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Growers report concern about corn yields, soybeans look better.

Bryce Knorr, Contributing market analyst

September 12, 2016

4 Min Read

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.

While farmers reporting yields last week continue to note potential less than USDA estimated Aug. 12, trends are diverging for corn and soybeans. Producers remain most concerned about corn fields, but their average projections for soybeans edged higher last week.

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USDA provides its latest production forecast at 11 a.m. CDT today. Average trade guesses see lower yields than the 175.1 published by the government last month, though soybean yields could be a little higher than the record 48.9 USDA found.

Variability is an emerging theme for growers, both from field to field and even within the same field. That’s making it difficult to get a good fix on yields until actual results from combines come in.

“Corn has huge variability across field, 200+ corn to 40 in same field,” said a grower in southwest Missouri. “Soybeans need rain this week or will be hard pressed to yield much. Milo looks good with a few areas of lodging due to moisture stress in the last month.”

On the other end of the Show-Me state in the northwest near Iowa, another grower also voiced concerns about a variety of problems.

“A lot of corn ears nosed back during the heat and lodging is getting really bad,” was this assessment.  “Disease showing up in soybeans. Seeing some of the worst sudden death I've ever had. Also hearing the same thing from several friends and neighbors.”

Farmers are voicing fears even in Illinois, where USDA reported very strong yields in August. “Down 15% from last year,” said a farmer in the southwest of the state, who put yields only around 175 bpa.

One of the hardest his areas this year developed in South Dakota. Said a producer near Mitchell: “Too wet during planting then dried out all summer. Didn't even have an inch total of rainfall during June and July.”

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

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

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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