Harvest is officially underway around here. That said, I did have to look around quite a while in today’s travels to find a crew actively cutting soybeans. I did see a few fields that had been taken out in the last several days. Most soybeans are anywhere from 75–100% leaf drop now, with some stem lodging present in almost all of them. Fortunately, they haven’t lodged far enough to be difficult for the combine. I’m cautiously optimistic about soybean yields—many fields probably could have benefited from another inch or two of rain in August, but I was able to find quite a few 4-bean pods now that leaves have dropped.

Much of the corn in the area still has some green in the leaves, but it is fading fast. Some fields have black layered already, and others are almost there. In the fields I’ve visited I have not seen much tip back on ears, which gives me hope that corn yields are going to be average to above average in the area. I’m still a bit worried about stalk quality and standability in some fields, but the ears are looking pretty good.

I’m telling all the farmers I speak with to take extra precautions and have safety briefs with their harvest crews. A dry harvest season obviously brings enhanced risk of fires. Know where your fire extinguishers are, and if you can have a piece of tillage equipment staged onsite and ready to cut fire breaks if needed, DO IT!

It has been unseasonably warm, but cooler temperatures are expected this weekend.

Lacking…..but there’s a decent chance this weekend and will be very welcome if we get it.

Dry on top, some moisture underneath. Cracks are forming in some places.

Harvest is getting started.

R7-R8

Black layer or almost black layer