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.