Harvest is beginning in earnest in southeast Nebraska. In traveling across Nemaha County and southeast Nebraska, there were a number of farmers harvesting, both corn and soybeans. Reports of excellent corn yields, with soybean yields more variable. Some soybean yields were reduced by the dry conditions in August and early September. The rains we received the second week of September benefited some of the later maturing soybeans. Corn yields on an on-farm research experiment in Nemaha County averaged over 200 bu/ac on a rainfed field.

The dry conditions continue in southwest Nebraska. Some early soybean harvest has begun, while other fields are still clinging to the last yellow leaves. Corn silage and cane harvest is progressing. Most cane hay looks to be done and baled already. Milo is ripening but still several weeks away from harvest. Some field edges have been harvested but are at a higher moisture. Wheat planting is beginning and a number planters are moving around the areas. I haven’t noticed as much volunteer wheat in fields this year, probably due to the dry conditions. Here is a photo from the sorghum test plots in Hitchcock county, the field was looking pretty good!