farmgate: Harvest Should Be Well Underway, But We Remain Behind The Calendar Throughout The Cornbelt.
Crops are abundant and harvest is well underway in part of the Cornbelt, but in some spots, crops could be better, and in others harvest is a long way away. While many row crop producers tried to find profitability in a year of high input costs and low commodity prices, other challenges of delayed maturity are jeopardizing crop quality and pushing harvest well into the fall.
USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin indicates slow maturing crops in some areas, but brisk harvest activity in others.
ILLINOIS: Only 13% of the Illinois corn crop is mature, compared to 69% on average for this time of year. 62% of it is in good to excellent condition, but 36% is poor to fair. Usually 82% of the soybeans would be turning yellow at this point in the fall, but currently only 54% are turning yellow. 60% of the Illinois soybean crop is rated good to excellent. Winter wheat planting is barely recordable because of the delays in soybeans coming out the field.
INDIANA: Only 14% of the Indiana corn is mature, compared to the five year average of 57%. While 62% of it is rated good to excellent, 35% is rated fair to poor. Only 72% of the corn is dented at this time. 40% of the soybeans are shedding leaves compared to 66% for the five year average. 59% are rated good to excellent. A few of the earliest planted corn and soybean fields have been harvested with widely varying yields being reported. Only 1% of the wheat has been planted.
IOWA: The story is different in Iowa with 22% of the corn at maturity, but still short of the 55% for the 5 year average. 75% of it is in good to excellent condition. Half of the soybeans are shedding leaves, compared to the 64% average for this time of year. 71% of the beans are rated good to excellent. The sun filled days and average nighttime temperatures were exactly what crops needed as corn and soybeans still lag behind the five-year average for most crop progress stages. A few producers have started harvesting soybeans planted on light sandy soils. Topsoil moisture is 31% short and shifting to the dry side. The lack of adequate precipitation caused range and pasture conditions to deteriorate in several districts.
KANSAS: Harvest is underway with 8% of the corn harvested, which is still behind the 28% harvested for the 5 year average. While dry weather has helped with harvest, cool temperatures have been the rule over most of the state slowing down progress in the Kansas cotton crop. 2% of the winter wheat has emerged which is on schedule.
MICHIGAN: Corn still about 2 weeks behind normal, but advancing. Thus far, amicable temperatures helped to advance crop, but crop still needs time to mature. Some drying of crop has begun due to lack of moisture this summer. Corn for silage harvest is underway at 14% complete. Soybeans are drying down, and 65% are turning color. Southeast, general growth stages ranged from R6 to R7. Issues related to white mold, Sudden Death Syndrome, and soybean cyst nematode were present. Continued mild conditions continued advancement of crops. However, lack of significant moisture has many areas at or near drought. Wheat planting continued.
MINNESOTA: 38% of the corn silage crop has been cut, 20% less than the average. 85% of the soybeans are turning yellow, just 6% behind the five year average. Nearly all of the oates have been harvested. The weather has turned dry, and 35% of the topsoil is rated short of moisture. Last week’s warm, dry weather allowed small grain producers to bring this year’s harvest closer to completion. Average temperatures ranged from 4 to 15 degrees above normal throughout the state. No reporting stations recorded any measurable precipitation. As of Sunday, rainfall amounts were one-half to over 3 inches below normal over the past four weeks.
MISSOURI: Although there is no report on the Missouri corn and soybean crops, topsoil moisture is generally adequate and pastures are 70% rated good to excellent. Temperatures have been on average.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska corn is 79% good to excellent, with irrigated corn slightly better and dryland corn 74% good to excellent. 15% of it is mature, compared to the 44% average. The soybean crop is 80% good to excellent, with 89% turning color and 1% harvested compared to the 4% average. The first fields of soybeans have been harvested. Seed corn, high moisture corn, and silage were being harvested. Topsoil and subsoil moisture are generally adequate.
NORTH DAKOTA: Corn for silage is 17% chopped, compared to the 52% average for this time of year. 66% of the soybeans are turning color, compared to the 90% average for the past 5 years. Most other crops are also behind schedule for maturity, but most are in good to excellent condition. Durum wheat is 68% harvested, which is 20% behind schedule. Small grain harvest and late season crop progress made great strides last week as temperatures were well above normal and dry weather prevailed. The clear, dry weather allowed producers to stay active in the fields harvesting.
OHIO: 14% of the corn is mature, compared to the 39% average, and 74% is in good to excellent condition. 52% of the soybean leaves are dropping, compared to the 64% five year average. 8% of the soybeans are mature, compared to the 23% average and 1% has been harvested. Soil moisture is 30% short and 77% of pastures are fair to good.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Corn harvest has not yet begun, although it usually has by this time; although 38% of the silage corn has been cut. 11% of the soybeans are mature, but none has yet been harvested. 12% of the winter wheat has emerged, which is ahead of schedule. Topsoil moisture is 88% short to adequate.
WISCONSIN: 10% of the corn is mature, but unharvested. However, 34% remains undented. 12% of the silage crop has been cut. 72% of the soybeans are turning color and one-third of those are dropping leaves. Another week of sunshine and above normal temperatures accelerated maturity of corn and soybeans. The lack of rain has dried out many fields across the state, and growers were hoping for some moisture to give crops and pastures a boost as well as aid germination of winter wheat and rye. Topsoil is 51% short of moisture.
Summary:
Corn and soybean harvest is just getting underway across the Cornbelt, well behind schedule in all states, however recent weather has been warmer and dry, enhancing maturity in most states. Crop reporters indicate that a growing number of areas are becoming dry in the topsoil and subsoil.
Posted by Stu Ellis on September 23, 2009 12:02 AM to farmgate