HARVEST IN FULL SWING
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 -- 11:30 AM
So far, the weather has set up perfectly for the fall harvest."From last week to this week, it's been a tremendous push," exclaims UW-Extension Crops and Soils agent Richard Halopka. "Soybeans really kicked in gear last Tuesday and Wednesday."
Halopka says the recent sunny, warm and breezy weather was just what the doctor ordered.
"Soybeans went from high moisture to as low as nine-percent, coming into elevators," Halopka says. "The highest moisture (local elevators) had was 13 or 14 percent, which is low, for most years."
According to the latest data from the Wisconsin Farm Statistics Service, 78 percent of the state's corn crop is mature and 11 percent harvested for grain. 94 percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, with 28 percent harvested.
Halopka estimates nearly 60 percent of the local soybean harvest is complete, with yields looking a bit above average.
A word of caution, though. Harvest time can be a dangerous time on rural roads. There will be plenty of big machinery out there in the next few weeks. Halopka says people should exercise patience and commonsense on area roads.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.