Combines aren’t rolling yet to harvest corn and soybeans. But many growers fear the worst as a difficult growing season winds down. While a few parts of the country escaped the ravages of floods, drought, heat and cold, growers posting Feedback From The Field last week remain concerned their crops won’t mature in time before killing frost hits.

“This cool weather that we are currently experiencing is great for working outdoors but is putting the already late crops even further behind,” wrote a producer from northwest Ohio who expects only 120-bushel corn and 20-bushel soybeans.

Indeed, farmers continue to project yields significantly below USDA’s updated estimate last week. Their crop ratings also slipped and are now barely above average.

The list of problems cited by farmers is long. In northwest Indiana lack of rain after spring floods are the issue.

“Almost no measuring rain going back to first week of July,” said one Hoosier. “A lot of tip-back in corn and bean pods are flat with little seed.”

Further west in northern Illinois a farmer said the view from the road is deceiving.

“Crops do not appear bad but are still very green with no hint of turning toward harvest,” was the report. “When you go in the field, there are very good ears in the corn and some very poor. Soybeans seem to be more even, but short on some pods towards the top.”

But not all areas are struggling. Growers who planted crops on time are looking for decent, if not great yields.

“Corn is mature,” said a farmer from west central Iowa with moisture at 31%. “Beans are turning yellow.”

And a producer in central Kentucky was looking for 200-bushel corn and 65-bushel soybeans. “Near perfect growing season,” summed it up.

Source: Bryce Knorr, Farm Futures