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With rain predicted in the weekend forecast, Magnolia farmer Chad Nelson was busy hauling silage to the concrete bunker on his farmyard.
“This (today) seems like a pretty ideal time for us,” Nelson said.
Nelson hopes by late Saturday night that he, his brother Corey, dad Jim and chopper operator Jeff Ahrendt will have the 90-acres of corn chopped, packed and sealed under plastic.
For Nelson’s corn, Friday’s moisture levels were in the mid 60s, an ideal level for corn silage.
With an average of 23 tons per acre, yield was in the average category.
A wet spring delayed planting of the field, possibly losing some plant growth, Nelson said.
Soybeans ‘abnormally tall’
The regular rains have been beneficial for area soybeans but the vegetative growth may be too much of a good thing.
While some fields contain plants at the normal waist tall height, several areas are growing plants that are almost chest high.
“They are abnormally tall this year,” said Andy Krueger with New Vision Co-Op in Hills.
He cautioned tall soybean plants are not indicators of high yields since the plant is utilizing most of this energy for plant growth.
However, the additional rainfall received in August may help the soybeans generate enough energy to also fill the extra pods.
Regional crop specialist Liz Stahl with the University of Minnesota Extension said several factors combined for Rock County’s exceptional soybean height beyond just adequate moisture. These factors include genetics, plant population and soil fertility.
“All of these can come together and make some pretty lush growth,” Stahl said.
The exceptional growth, however, can lead to problems come harvest time.
Wind can tangle the stems together, creating lodging or tangled conditions when combining, Stahl said.
Too much vegetation can also inhibit air circulation, allowing mold growth.
Corn ‘about average’
With frost almost certain for the later part of September, Carl Gehrke with CHS Eastern Farmers in Magnolia hopes a killing frost stays away for as long as possible for this year’s corn crop.
“I am thinking this year’s yields will be about average,” he said. “We can hold off on the frost — the longer the better.”
A delayed frost would help the grain finish maturing as well as lower the moisture levels while still in the field.
According to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, Rock County’s median freeze date is Sept. 21-30.
Last year Rock County set all-time yield records for both soybeans (58.2 bushels per acre) and for corn (198.8 bushels per acre).
Grain prices mixed
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released its monthly corn and soybean prices on Aug. 31.
The July average for corn in the state was $3.47 per bushel. That’s down 18 cents from last month as well as from the July 2015 price.
Soybeans averaged $10 per bushel, up 11 cents from June and 26 cents higher than the July 2015 price.