Cropwatcher 09-25-09

Todd Easton Coles County September 25 2009: Harvest in Coles County has finally started this week. A handful of combines have been in selected areas harvesting the April planted corn and earliest soybeans. A survey of several producers has pinned the early corn harvested in a range spanning ten bushel above or below the 200 bushel mark and the moisture has been between 20 to 25 percent. The rest of the corn should achieve harvestable maturity this week will need at least another week to reach more desirable harvest moistures. The majority of the soybeans are starting to shed leaves and should be ready in a week or two. As we get this harvest started be careful on the roads as traffic gets reacquainted to combines and implements on the roads.

Cropwatcher 09/18/09

Todd Easton Coles County September 18 2009: Crops here in Coles County are steadily coming to maturity aided by the recent heat and lack of rain fall. Our growing degree days for late may planted corn are approaching 2500 units which puts the majority of the area corn crop at physiological maturity in less than two weeks. Soybeans are turning rapidly because the hot and dry conditions. We have yet to get the late rain I was hoping the beans would get but there is a chance for some this weekend but it may be too late to do very much good. By this time next week I’m sure there will be a scarce combine or two running with many more following the next week. I can hardly wait for the combine monitors and truck scales to tell us how our crops dealt with such a uniquely challenging year and what we can learn from it.

Cropwatcher 09-11-09

First things first TO ALL THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES OF SEPTEMBER 11 2001 WE HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT EVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED THAT FATEFUL DAY GOD BLESS AMERICA !

Here is a picture of the south place from the north place wish the corn was more even compaction really got us this spring.

Todd Easton Coles County September 11 2009: Finally some warmth this week bringing us another 150 growing degree days putting the total 2350 for late May planted corn but we are still 150 units behind normal. The few acres of late April planted corn looks like it could be harvested but I’m sure those growers will let some natural drying occur before they start picking. The rest of our corn is showing quite a bit of visual improvement but is still more than two weeks from physiological maturity. The early third of area soybeans are finally starting to turn yellow which should mean a couple more weeks before cutting begins while the later beans are still very green and really need an extended growing season. All but the earliest beans could use a rain very soon to ensure good pod fill but nothing seems to be in the forecast so we are hoping for a surprise.