After an unusually dry August, local fields have ripened rapidly and local farmers are responding to conditions with early harvest protocols. Livestock producers started silage chopping over two weeks ago and have now moved on to wet corn. Meanwhile, many soybean fields quickly yellowed and turned to brown under prolonged hot, dry conditions followed by last week’s near freezing temperatures. According to USDA crop reports for southern Minnesota, soybean harvest is two weeks ahead of schedule and six days ahead of the five-year average. This photograph, taken Monday evening west of Luverne, shows wide variation in soybean varieties and among fields that were planted in different time frames. The foreground soybeans are still showing some green while the harvest activity shows plants at mature stages. According to the USDA, corn maturity in southern Minnesota is 24 days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the five-year average.