Harvest season is progressing in the immediate area following some relatively dry weather.
Judging how the corn and soybean harvest fared will likely take a bit more time to assess. Those crops battled heavy rains earlier this year, and were susceptible to drought conditions during the summer months. Given the dry conditions, officials with Purdue Extension say farmers may not have to invest much in drying their product after harvest.
Purdue Extension Agricultural Educator Phil Woolery says only about 10-percent of fields have been harvested.
“Soybeans have been a little dryer than they need to be,” says Woolery. “So I think the emphasis has been on soybeans harvested than has been occurring in the corn harvest so far.”
Area farmers have been preparing their equipment in the last several weeks to ensure it’s ready for harvest. Checking field conditions for moisture levels has also been taking place.
Several challenges are present, however, as farmers work through the fields. Among this is the potential for stalk rot – which could become problematic with any extended periods of rainfall.
Soybeans may also appear green, but the beans could be ready for harvest. Woolery says that’s something farmers may want to keep in mind.
“Just because there are still green leaves, they might want to check those spots because they be able to be harvested already at this point,” says Woolery.
The pace of harvesting the fields will largely depend on the weather in the coming weeks.
Woolery says that once the harvest has been completed, and assuming dry weather, local farmers may be applying weed control to their fields. Mare’s tail was cited as particularly problematic.
