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Harvest 2022 wraps up

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Crop yields deemed 'good' to 'great' despite drought
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By
Mavis Fodness

Harvest for local farmers wrapped up quickly this fall, thanks to dry conditions that affected yield potentials as well as drying expenses at harvest.
“Yields have been good,” said Centrol’s Mark Moeller of Luverne.
“But with the dry growing conditions, there was some potential left in the field. Most people are happy with what they got.”
Cornfields that received timely rains yielded well, ranging high in the 230 to 250 bushels per acre. Soybean fields also yielded high with timely rains, averaging between 50 and 60 bushels per acre.
Fields where moisture was lacking, especially in August, saw yields drop to around 120 to 150 bushels per acre for corn.
Fields near Magnolia and Kanaranzi were among the areas that received timely rains in August along with areas in Rosedell and Springwater townships.
The Luverne area received rainfall in July that helped sustain crops through the summer heat of August.
Some areas had surprisingly good yields despite the weather conditions.
“The Hills area seems to pull yield out of thin air,” Moeller said.
However, crops located in the northern half of the county received little to no rainfall in August
The significant rainfall helped harvest move rather quickly over the last month.
According to Monday’s state crop progress report, corn harvested for grain was at 92 percent complete, on pace with last year and 13 days ahead of the five-year average. Average corn moisture content is 16 percent.
The fall’s drought conditions led to nature completing most crop drying.
“Guys didn’t mind waiting for the crop to dry in the field,” Moeller said. “With (corn) moisture levels in the upper teens to low 20s, it only took a few days to dry down to the optimal 15 percent — especially on those windy days.”
According to the latest drought monitor report, Rock County continues under moderate drought conditions, while surrounding counties have areas of severe and extreme drought.
“I wouldn’t mind a good rain,” Moeller said. “Or a good snow cover.”
The warm, dry conditions during harvest were the opposite of this year’s spring planting weather. Moeller observed 2022 as one of the coldest springs of his 34-year career.

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