Premature Midwest Crop Ripening

October 14, 2011

Producers have stepped up harvesting in soybeans to lessen field losses from pod-shattering.  Beans spilling to the ground would not be recovered.  Soybeans were reportedly extremely dry.   Minnesota producers were already  80% finished with soy harvesting October 9.  Iowa soybeans were 70% harvested and Illinois 50%.    Corn was drying down rapidly with exceptional warmth and dryness.   Corn harvesting was 25-30% done in Iowa and Minnesota and already half finished in Illinois. 

Drought was worst in southern Minnesota with 25-30% of normal rainfall in corn and soybean areas.  Subscribers continue to full story...