Market Matters Blog

Wet weather stalled harvest in many areas of the country this week, with many of the major Corn Belt states having 4 or fewer days suitable for field work.

"We started combining beans on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and put in over 90 hours until we got rained out Monday, Oct. 14, about 2 p.m.," said Karen Johnson, a farmer near Avoca, Iowa. "We got an inch by the next morning. Even beans with quite green stems were dry in the pods (10 to 12% mostly)."

She said yields are averaging 45 to 50 bushels per acre.

On Monday, USDA issued its first Crop Progress report since September 30. USDA reported soybean harvest at 63% complete, compared to 79% last year and the five-year average of 69%.

Of the major Corn Belt states, Nebraska and Minnesota are the farthest along in soybean harvest, at 80% complete each.

Nationally, corn harvest was reported at 39% complete, which lags behind the five-year average 53%.

Near Watertown, Wis., Justin Premo said a week of off and on rain (and more in forecast) brought soybean harvest to a halt.

"Guys are thinking about hitting corn, but most are still a touch wet for them to start," he told DTN in an email on Friday. "We are going to start high-moisture corn tonight and will have a better feel for how everything is running after the weekend. As far as hearing echoes from the farmers, mold is starting to become more common."

Illinois leads the "I" states in corn harvest completion, with 51% estimated to be in the bin. Indiana follows at 43% while Iowa comes in at a distant 3rd, at 35%.

Crop Technology Editor Pam Smith reports that corn harvest is close to finished near her home in Decatur, Ill.

But Kenton Thomas, who farms in Illinois' southernmost county, Alexander County, said rains have slowed harvest.

"Need two weeks of dry weather. Harvest is very slow," he said. "Corn is very good, a lot of 200 bushel corn. What few beans that are out are average at best."

Johnson, the Iowa farmer, said they started harvesting their last 100 acres of soybeans at the end of last week and will be switching to corn. Iowa's leading the "I" states in soybean completion, at 70%.

DTN News Intern Emily Unglesbee visited relatives in south-central Iowa last weekend and noted that some corn stalks were still green. She estimates corn harvest there is 30% to 40% complete, which soybeans are closer to 50% harvested.

Much of the main Corn Belt is in better shape harvest-wise than North Dakota, where only 54% of the soybean crop and 14% of the corn crop have been combined.

"Friday finds me not very happy, as it has rained every day for over a week," David P Kjelstrup told DTN in an email from North Dakota. "Soybeans are wet on the ground. Sunflowers are not falling over yet, but a good wind will tip them over because the ground is so wet. Corn is tough. The forecast is for the rain to quit by Monday, but the temp is only going to be the 30s for next week.

"On a lighter note the duck hunting is not too bad."