Results from combines are positive, but the pace for northern Indiana corn harvest remains slow. It has been behind schedule, continues that way, and the rough number from Dairyland Seeds regional agronomist Mark Gibson might even surprise you.
“We’re looking at I would guess around 40% of corn harvested as of right now.”
Gibson says there is enough corn still in the fields that harvest operations could take the entire month of November. Delays have been caused by slow dry down and other factors.
“I think folks have been busy with soybeans with intermittent rains keeping folks out of the fields and kind of an extended harvest here. I think that’s what’s delayed corn harvest so far and I think you hit another good topic with corn moisture. I think nobody has been any too anxious or willing to go out and harvest some of the high moisture corn that we’re seeing right now.”
He says moisture levels are now becoming more manageable, but the yield results have been worth the wait. Farmers are anywhere from satisfied to impressed with their yields, especially given adversity from drought-like conditions at one point.
Gibson pegs soybean harvest at about 90 percent complete in northern Indiana, but still plagued by rain events.
“Progress has been great with beans and yields have been respectable given the year,” he said. “Maybe not quite the wow factor that we’re seeing in some corn, but most folks seem to be very satisfied with bean yields. No real issues other than the intermittent rain. Just about the time in some heavier ground they would start to get rolling, they would get rained out of the fields”
With the extended harvest, Gibson urges farmers to remain vigilant about harvest safety.
“Things become repetitious and it’s important just to be mindful of all that we do so that we can get home safely.”
