Field Updates

Field Updates

October 26, 2007

Keith Glewen, Extension Educator in Saunders County: Harvest is progressing at a rapid pace in the absence of rain clouds. Soybean and corn yields, both dryland and irrigated, for the most part are very good. Numerous elevators are full and no longer taking delivery on soybeans. Due to wet field conditions there are places, especially in the Todd and Platte River valleys, where the crop won't be harvested until the ground freezes. With the late harvest and wet conditions some growers planning to plant wheat after soybean harvest will most likely plant these fields to corn or soybeans next spring. Fall anhydrous application is still a common practice in east central Nebraska, however, the jury is still out on whether soil conditions will allow for this.

Paul Hay, Extension Educator in Gage County: Harvest is underway following a very wet delay. Many farmers will be finishing by early next week if the weather holds. Heavy rain has crusted some wheat planted in wet conditions just before the rains. Extension Crops Specialist Bob Klein suggests redrilling with a low seedig rate, which looks like a better option than rotary hoeing. Some wheat is still going in this week. Growers are taking their last alfalfa cutting which should help relieve a still tight forage situation.

Gary Lesoing, Extension Educator in Nemaha County: Last week heavy rains kept farmers out of the field for most of the week. I saw some farmers back in the field Sunday, with most everyone harvesting on Monday. It has been a very good week for farmers to make progress in harvesting both soybeans and corn. Corn harvest is probably 70-75% complete, with soybeans 60-65% done. Yields are reported to be very good to excellent for both crops. Reports are that upland corn is yielding 130-175 bushels per acre, with bottomland fields yielding 175-200 bushels per acre. Reports indicate irrigated fields are mostly yielding about 200-225 bushels per acre. Soybeans yields range from 45 to 75 bushels per acre, with many reports of 50-60 bushels per acre. Wheat seeding is progressing and most of the planted wheat has emerged with ample rainfall. Most of the alfalfa has been harvested for the last time and pastures are in good shape going into next year.

Doug Anderson, Extension Educator in Keith, Arthur and Perkins counties: Harvest is about 80% complete and there are long lines at the elevators. Yields should be a little over average with corn yields good and sunflower yields very good. There aren't many beans but what there had an average yield. Field conditions are good. The additional moisture has been good for alfalfa and growers took a fourth cutting. The area did have a freeze earlier in the week.

Dave Stenberg, Extension Educator in Dawson County: Harvest is in full swing here. Soybean harvest was completed three week ago with yields in the mid to upper 50s with a range from 50-80+ bushels per acre. Before the wet fields the past couple of weeks, 4-5 million bushels of high moisture corn was harvested. After the wet field delays, corn harvest has really picked up this week. I am estimating that by week's end, corn harvest will move from 25% to 60+% complete. Yields have been good but not at record levels for irrigated corn. I am hearing of yields 10 bushels per acre less than record; although there is a fair level of variability. Grain quality is excellent but stalk quality is suspect with various rots. The most limiting factor to a speedy harvest is the long line at the elevator. Dryland corn is at record levels. It is always a challenge to find enough help at harvest time with shortages of truck drivers, grain cart tractor drivers, etc.

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A field of corn.