Harvest is progressing in the local area, but any moisture in the forecast could slow production down for a few days.
Purdue Extension Agricultural Educator Phil Woolery says corn and soybeans are about 50-percent out of the ground at this point in October in the local area. So far this harvest season, there have been stretches of good weather and stretches of unfavorable weather.
“We’ve been getting some periodic rains which kind of slows things down a bit, but that’s kind of normal every year,” says Woolery.
In the state, and in the local area, there have been reports of ear rot on the corn: a fungal disease that can affect the grain. Farmers reporting ear rot in certain areas will likely harvest those crops before the ear rot spreads.
Woolery says this year’s reports are modest compared to previous years. Farmers, however, will be out scouting to assess any damage that could be reported.
Precipitation last year caused difficulty with corn production. This year has shown improved growing conditions, according to Woolery. A dry spell in July and August put stress on the crops. That was followed by a period of heavy precipitation.
Woolery says fields will differ depending on the variety and date and planting.
“Yields have been across the board so some of them are lower than expected, some are really higher than expected,” says Woolery. “So that depends on planting and the varieties.”
Farmers that already have their crops out of the fields may soon begin to focus on preparing the soil for winter.
Woolery says recent moisture may have made the soil difficult for farmers to navigate.
