Area producers are on track to set production and yield records for 2016, the second growing year in a row.
The state’s corn harvest is forecasted at 1.49 billion bushels, according to the latest USDA crop production report.
If realized, the production would be a record high.
Corn yields are expected to be the second highest based on current harvest conditions around the state. Yields could average 186 bushels, a year after the state corn yield record was set.
Last year Rock County farmers pushed the local corn yield average to a record high of 198.8 bushels, which also could be topped this year.
“I think some people will experience their best yields,” said Brad Berkhof with New Vision, Hills.
Some portions of fields were flooded out during the growing season, but the 2016 other areas more than made up for the yield loss, added CHS Eastern Farmers Elevator’s Gary Lee.
Prices, however, are not following the record production highs. Corn prices peaked in 2011 at $6.67 per bushel in southwest Minnesota. Local market prices have this year’s corn crop prices at slightly over $3 per bushel. Soybean prices are also lower that the high of $14.30 per bushel in 2012. Local markets have soybeans averaging just over $9 per bushel.
Along with record corn yield, the state’s soybean crop is also forecasted to break records.
At an estimated 370 million bushels the state’s soybean production would also be the second highest on record. Soybean yields are expected to average 49 bushels per acre across the state.
Locally the top yield record for soybeans was set last year at 58.2 bushels per acre, a record that also may be broken this year. Lee estimated local soybean yields are ranging from 50 to 80 bushels per acre.
“We’re having some good yields,” he said.
Farmers are somewhat behind their usual schedule for getting crops, due to persistent rain showers. Lee anticipates the local harvest won’t be wrapped up until mid-November, as opposed to the usual Halloween conclusion.