Editors' Notebook

You've heard the old saw "Think Globally, Act Locally?" For farmers it's more like "Think Nationally and Globally, Harvest Locally."

This is the time of year when local crop conditions come right smack up against the market that doesn't seem to care about toasted corn plants in southeastern Nebraska or southwestern Iowa. The market takes a big picture view of crop potential. A very big picture view, which was what sparked some discussion among the editors in the DTN newsroom about an early corn harvest and the extra drying expense it will take to get that corn into salable or storable condition. In my little area of Gretna, Neb., a shortage of rainfall (until Tuesday night) and no shortage of hot winds have left corn fields brown and plants sucked dry. Not a combine in sight.

However, in Illinois where DTN/Progressive Farmer Crops/Technology Editor Pam Smith makes her home, harvest has started. Producers are concerned about stalk issues and lodging and are moving to bin the grain ASAP. They'll be firing up the dryers in order to do so. Some were lucky enough to nail down some cash sales at great basis levels and they needed to deliver.

So I asked a group of DTN/The Progressive Farmer readers who have agreed to be my email advisory panel, what their plans were for harvest, early or not, and drying and storing grain. Here are the responses I received.

Todd Calfee, southwest Iowa

It will be a couple weeks before much is done in western/southwest Iowa. Don't believe any "extra" drying will be necessary as warm and windy as it's been. The early premiums have pretty much evaporated, and with the lower prices, we see most corn going into storage.

David Kjelstrup, west-central N.D.

My beans are still summer green. My quess is two weeks after a good frost (harvest will start). Corn will not be until end of October or first of November and I don't think it will be dry. But we will take it anyway and put it in air bins. My problem is not enough bins. Partly because the barley is not moving out like I had hoped. While I was writing this my agronomist called and said we would be combining corn by the 15th of October. I'll call BS on that. We will see. Farming really screws up my hunting.

Barry Mumby, southwest Michigan

We are watching spot corn bids for the last half of September. We could go to corn first, then beans, if basis/drying deals make it attractive. As we speak, (Tuesday) the temps continue to be high with breezes drying corn down one percentage point per day. Soybeans will be ready by the last week in September and if we go to soy first, we will have time for corn later (drier) or wait until wet weather stalls soy harvest. I have a max basis locked down on my corn with an option to deliver early if basis/drying deals make it work.

Cory Ritter, Blue Mound, Ill.

I have harvested some corn already. It was WET! 34% to 35%! The reason was early premium! I made a contract with the basis at +110. With 48 hours of making the contract, the basis dropped 70 points. We have shut down picking. The basis isn't making it worth it now. We will let Mother Nature do a little drying now. Corn planted two weeks later is still very wet, and some not black layered yet. With our drying system, we will start again when we get to 28%. Unless the end users need more corn and bump up the basis again. Hard to cut soybeans early. As soon as they are mature we will cut them.

Bob Birdsell, Stanberry, Mo.

Maybe earlier than normal on corn just because of the way it is drying down. They have taken all of the incentive out, aka basis, to do it early. Beans were planted late, so no early harvest there. I'm more afraid of corn drying down too far before we can get to it.

******

Keith Landis, northern Illinois

Harvest will probably be done early here simply because it's drying down with no rain and very dry conditions. I've heard of one who has a September contract. Also heard not many contracts are out there for fall delivery. Chopping has started along with harvesting high moisture feed. For the high moisture harvest, the moisture is around 40% right now. South of the river, corn is around 20% on the sandier soil.

Phil Carter, New Era, Mich.

I definitely won't be harvesting corn early because we have to do apples first. I am unsure about extra drying at this time. The corn I looked at today was fully dented but no black layer yet. I don't raise beans.

Steve Howe, Thurman, Iowa

I am going to try and start next Wednesday or Thursday, (Sept. 18, 19) if the moisture is under 20. I think it will be. It will go straight to my mill, for hog feed.

Jeff Littrell, Chatfield, Minn.

We have to get past milk stage and maybe in a month we can see about what moisture we're at then! If we don't freeze until October 5 through 10, I believe we will be somewhere around normal, which is 24% to 26% points If interested we are holding three field days Sept. 17, 18, 19. www.fhr1.com. Field day Frenzy!

I am always on the lookout for more readers to join my email discussion group. If you are interested, email me at cheri.zagurski@telventdtn.com

© Copyright 2013 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.