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Harvest delays diminish hope for good yields

Many farmers are lowering yield expectations as rain and snow delay harvest and damage crops.

Southwest Minnesota farmer Bob Worth says harvest in his area has been restricted by up to four inches of rain and three inches of snow in the last week, diminishing hopes of a good crop.

“It’s not going to be too big (the yield losses), but it’s going to be a loss.  We’re going to go down, not gain yields.”

In the 130 acres of corn he’s harvested, Worth says he was surprised by the results in good, heavier soils.

“You go from 0 to 240 bushels an acre per round.  And there’s more 0’s than 240’s, so the corn is going to be poor.”

He’s also been caught off guard by pod shatter in soybeans.

“Because our beans were not really mature and dry before we got all this wet weather.  But the pods are drying down so much, and the wind is just popping these pods open.  So we’re having beans drop off.”

With ideal conditions, Worth estimates seven days remain on his soybean harvest and a minimum of two weeks for corn.