Corn Commentary

Gentlemen, Start Your Combines

The harvest season is officially underway in many states and all eyes are on the weather watching for rain delays and any potential for frost or freeze in areas where the crop is not yet mature.

According to USDA, just six percent of the crop is harvested, compared to an average of 18 percent for this time of year, which is not too worrisome at the moment. Farmers can catch up very quickly once they get into the fields, but the crop is only 37 percent mature, compared to 72 percent average.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says one state is facing a very real weather threat this week. “In North Dakota, where there are frost advisories up, we still see one quarter of the crop has not yet begun to dent there,” Rippey said. “However, temperatures should be in the 30-35 degree range. If we are in that range, that should preserve most of the immature acreage. If we get a little bit colder than that, that could be a big concern for immature corn and soybeans.”

Harvest in both North and South Dakota, as well as Michigan and Minnesota, has yet to begin. Just two percent of the corn in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa has been harvested so far. Only Texas, Colorado and North Carolina are running about on schedule for this time of year.