End of Harvest

For us, Harvest 2015 ended on October 30.  It ended up being a great year with yields higher than expected.  Harvest weather was perfect, and we were able to harvest pretty much non-stop for 7 weeks.  During this time, we saw yields almost 10% less than our record which was set last year.  2015 corn field averages ranged from 185 bu/ac - 254 bu/ac, and soybean field averages were 58 bu/ac - 74 bu/ac.  The August and September hot, dry weather dried the grain to the point where we did not have to dry it ourselves for storage.

We were very pleased with how our equipment performed.  A couple of medium sized breakdowns did not stop us completely because we were able to switch out tractors in order to keep running.  However, as with everything, we continue to analyze our equipment needs.

Now that all of the field work has been completed we have been meeting with seed salesmen to make our 2016 seed variety decisions.  Although the price of grain has fallen drastically, we haven't seen much relief in seed corn prices.  Even though it is a relatively insignificant cost, we have enjoyed low fuel prices this year and have locked in fuel prices for 2016.  The first week of November provided us with cool temperatures and some moisture which allowed us to apply anhydrous ammonia to our 2016 corn fields.

During the remainder of 2015 and early 2016 we will continue planning and marketing for a great crop in 2016.  We have our eye on the long term weather forecast and have been paying particular attention to the El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean and how that has historically affected the Midwest.

We look forward to the holiday seasons ahead of us and giving thanks for the many blessings of 2015.

We also have a few vacations planned that we have been looking forward to.

We wish everyone a safe winter!

Beginning of Fall Harvest

We started corn harvest the third week of September with some of our early planted, early variety corn south of LeRoy, Illinois. We finished that variety and moved to another field north of Mansfield. This was the first entire field that we completed with yields around 190 bu/ac and moistures around 25%. We then moved to another corn field north of there around Elliott, Illinois. The yields were better there with 210 bu/ac average, but moisture was still pretty high at 25-26%. We were extremely impressed with this field because we have found that Ford County has different soils and even different weather patterns to deal with. We were told that just 10 miles north was completely devastated by early summer rains. After that field we were able to switch to soybeans with a move straight south to Dewey. We were also impressed with these yields even though that farm was also negatively impacted by heavy summer rains. Across the elevator scales, we produced a very nice 69 bu/ac. Leaving there, we tried to avoid the long trek, but a mature variety north of Bloomington was ready for harvest. We were able to harvest that field in one long day, and it also yielded a large number at 72 bu/ac. After that, we were able to move closer to home for more soybeans. We will be here for four or five days harvesting soybeans.

The harvest weather has been perfect. Warm days, light winds, and low humidity have helped the crop dry down quickly. We have spread fertilizer on two of the fields so far and look forward to starting fall tillage work. Unlike last year when it turned bitterly cold early, we hope to get the fall tillage done early as we prepare for another great crop in 2016.

Soybean prices saw a little bit of a favorable price bounce on Friday, and we rewarded the market with some more 2015 soybean sales. Fall fertilizer prices have dropped a little, but we hope they drop further to more economical levels. Conversations with seed salesmen have started, and we hope to have great seed again next year. We are also talking with them about 2016 input costs. 

We look forward to continuing a safe harvest. We have heard of a few combine fires, and we are being extremely conscientious about keeping our combine clear of dust and chaff. Safe harvest wishes to all of our fellow farmers as we all bring in a bountiful crop.