Last week’s rains may have kept farmers out of the field, but the progress of harvest season remains ahead of schedule. According to the USDA, Minnesota’s corn harvest was 75 percent complete as of Oct. 30, falling behind the 77 percent from a year ago.
“The weather has been kind of an issue.” Chip Mack, owner of Whitewater Creek Grain and Feed in Waterville said of last week’s progress. “But it’s been a remarkable crop for the weather we’ve had all summer.”
The rain last week slowed the harvest. There were 3.9 days the USDA considered suitable for harvest last week, compared to 5.4 days in the week prior. A week ago, the corn harvest was five percent higher than last year at 62 percent to 57 percent. However, both years outpace the five-year average of 65 percent.
Moisture content for harvested corn averaged 18 percent.
“It’s not above average, but it was better than everyone thought it was going to be because it was so dry,” Mack noted of the yields. “The beans were just a little better than what everyone thought.”
The state’s soybean harvest is nearing completion at...
To see more on this story pick up the November 2, 2023 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.
Harvest progresses despite rain
