A Better Harvest Than Expected
With the Indiana harvest at the half way mark, it is safe to say it has been an easier harvest than had been expected. The dry, fall weather has allowed the harvest to speed ahead. Some growers are nearing completion, and Ryan Piel, DuPont Pioneer agronomist in West Central Indiana, says most farms in his area are over the half way point, “In the Crawfordsville area, we are at the half way point; and, in some areas west and south, they are well over that.”
Piel said corn yields are variable with some fields in the 260bpa range and other much less, “I was in a combine yesterday with a farmer and we were seeing yields in the 120 bpa range.” He added that this was the later planted corn that was not as good as the earlier planted crops on that farm.
What has been a surprise is the way the crops have dried down so rapidly. Despite shallow roots and the lack of nitrogen, the crops are standing up rather well. “We were certainly set up for plenty of problems this harvest but have not seen too many,” Piel said. Prior to harvest there were predictions that crops would be harvested wet and that lodging would be an issue in corn. Piel told HAT the dry weather and lack of storms has been a blessing, “Mother Nature currently gave us a break this fall.”
Piel says the soybean harvest is rolling along with few difficulties. The yields are better than expected, “I have been hearing of yields in the 40bpa in the early season varieties and 60bpa in the full season varieties.”
Listen to the complete report with Ryan Piel on the agronomy page at our web site and mobile app.
