News

Minnesota farmer finds white mold during soybean harvest

A southeast Minnesota farmer is surprised by the extent of white mold while harvesting soybeans.

Les Anderson of Cannon Falls says his beans looked deceivingly healthy.

“I thought the fields looked a little better until I got into them, and the white mold was a bigger factor this year than I realized. The beans looked fairly good, but the yields were down a little bit.”

He estimates white mold reduced soybean yields five to ten bushels an acre.

Anderson tells Brownfield it’s been a wet year, but that wasn’t the only factor.

“On my farm I attribute (the white mold) to not using a Flexstar or another chemical that burnt (the soybeans) and held them back a little bit. This is the worst white mold I’ve seen in a long time, (and it’s probably because of) not using a product like that.”

He says overall, yields are in the mid 50’s.  And Anderson figures he can be done harvesting soybeans in three days once the weather cooperates.