Monday’s USDA Crop Progress report confirmed what we already expected- not much harvest activity took place last week across the state. Indiana corn is 62% harvested, up only 5% from a week ago and still behind the 5-year average pace. Indiana soybeans are 67% harvested, up only 4% from the week prior and well behind the 5-year average pace of 82%.
Excessive rainfall kept farmers out of the field last week and is still hindering progress this week.
“The three inches or so that most of east central Indiana has had over the past week or 10 days in some areas looks like almost ten inches of rain,” says Pioneer agronomist Eric Miller. “And I know that’s an exaggeration, but it just seems like this ground is really, really holding the moisture and we don’t have any temperatures to help dry it out. It’s going to be a delicate balancing act of urgency of getting this crop in the bin and harvested and not just tearing every acre up as we take equipment out across the field.”
Miller says after farmers get back in the field, his biggest question will be about the moisture of grain, specifically soybeans.
“What are we going to do with the 15 percent or higher soybeans once we get them? And do you have a plan in place on being able to store them, be able to dry them, dry them well, or where to put that commodity once we have it in our semis and what to do with it?”
Pioneer’s Miller shares how he would prioritize harvest operations, once they resume, and if you should still plant wheat in the full HAT interview below.