Harvest Started

Todd Easton Coles County August 26 2011: Harvest is here already in Coles County and much earlier than most would have liked in the sense that the corn crop had to prematurely die off to achieve this. A small handful of producers are getting started on their April planted corn and finding it in the low 20’s for moisture and in the 160’s from the yield standpoint. The elevator said that grain quality was surprisingly good but test weights were low as expected. Hand sampling in the May planted corn fields has been finding them in the low 30’s which means they could be harvested next week if the farmers want to burn some propane to dry it out. Most of the corn crop could be out of the fields before soybeans ripen enough for harvesting. Currently bean fields are still dark green and hanging in there as one chance of rain after another misses them. A good shower on the bean crop would probably improve the final yield at this point but that may not be the case much longer. As we start in on the harvest please remember to keep the safety of yourself and everyone else your number one priority!

08/19/11

Todd Easton Coles County August 19 2011: The drought persists this week with only another small shower occurring in some places and having much affect on the moisture situation. Producers are starting to make their advance preparations for harvest. Most are not anticipating the need to use some of their smaller out of the way grain bins this fall after the yield estimate came out Monday. The magic number that teams brought out of the corn fields was 146.15 bushels per acre. It looks like the southern townships will have a shot at being the high yielder for the year because of more precipitation coming through that area. Another couple of weeks and yield monitors will be telling us for sure what is in those fields. Soybeans are hanging in there and could really use the chances for rain in the forecast this weekend to pan out but seeing is believing this year.

08/12/11

Todd Easton Coles County August 12 2011: It has been another dry week in Coles County with only a teaser shower blowing through on Monday. The good news is that temperatures have cooled down which has been a relief to both crops and people. With the cooler temperatures the die off of the corn crop has slowed down but many disappointing ears are being pulled out of the fields. The Coles County Farm Bureau will be doing a yield check next week and I am sure everyone will be very interested in its findings. There is a significant chance for rain this weekend for a change and hopefully it materializes and puts some pods on the soybean plants that have been sitting in the field waiting for a drink. Keep your fingers crossed.

08/05/11

Todd Easton Coles County August 05 2011: More heat more dryness brought fourth another hard week for the crops in the field. We did once again see 2 to 4 tenths last Friday but this size of rainfall seems to do little to help out the situation. Corn plants are beginning to fire up in several fields some worse than others and without significant rainfall soon will die off before any kernel fill occurs hurting yields even more. The beans are also waiting for some water and hopefully will get some before they just give up on making decent pod counts. We are defiantly in the 11th hour with this crop and hopefully the small chances forecasters are giving us for this weekend develop something to avert a total disappointment at harvest time.

Fair Week

Todd Easton Coles County July 29 2011: Another hot and mostly dry week across the area as the stressful conditions keep whittling away at the 2011 crops potential. Precipitation was experienced a week ago Sunday (July 24) but only netted 2 to 4 tenths for most of the county. The weatherman only has a few small chances for rain among the hot temperatures in the forecast but we can only hope that maybe at least one of those will deliver the 1 plus inches of rain this crop could really use. The corn crop is showing many signs of stress especially in the May planted corn which is the vast majority of this crop. The May planted corn is at the R3 milk stage and showing signs of some pollination issues and kernel abortion. The April corn is just one stage ahead at the R4 dough stage but that has helped it weather the stressful conditions better than the later planted corn. Soybean fields are hanging in there as they seem to be sitting at the R4 full pod stage waiting for some moisture. Double crop beans are under a lot of stress and need moisture soon to have any potential at all. This week brings us the 158th Coles County Fair with all of its features, fun, festivities, and hopefully the almost traditional fair week rain shower will come in this year and do some good for the crops. Either way see you at the fair!

07/22/11

Todd Easton Coles County July 22 2011: The most used word of the week has clearly been hot as temperatures seem unrelenting across the area. The corn and soybean fields are showing signs of stress in some places which means the heat is probably having some adverse effects on final yields. The grass in the yards is also beginning to turn brown which is another good sign that we need some moisture and cooler temps sooner than later. Hopefully chances of rain that are forecast over the weekend and beginning of the next week will pan out. Pollination is nearing completion for the entire corn crop and producers are hoping the heat did not have a significantly adverse effect but it is too soon to tell. As fungicide applications in the corn fields near completion applicators are turning their attention to soybean field fungicide application as some of the earlier fields are nearing the full pod stage. I can’t stress enough as the heat wave continues take it slow and easy outside.

07/15/11

Todd Easton Coles County July 15 2011: The summer heat came on in force over the weekend and beginning of the week but seemed to be stressing people much more than the crops. Toward the middle of the week a front came through bringing very little moisture but fortunately cooler temperatures. Corn fields are still making great progress with the earlier April planted fields completing pollination and entering the R2 blister stage and the May planted fields at the R1 silk stage. On the growing degree day chart we are over 100 units above the average accumulation. This should help make up for some of the planting delay last spring and not make our harvest season excessively late this year. The yellow Air Tractor planes are furiously buzzing overhead making Fungicide applications on many of the fields and will probably be busy for a week or two. Soybean fields are still looking good as they generally are entering the R3 beginning pod stage. All the fields that I have walked through are at a good waist height with very good pod potential. Both crops showed their health by shrugging off the intense heat earlier in the week. Now all we can do is hope for a few more good showers and reasonable temperatures through the next month to bring both crops to maturity and not diminish potential yield. As we enter the famous dog days of summer please remember to take the proper hot weather precautions for yourselves along with the people and animals around you.