Early Harvest Completion In Many Areas

The 2024 Fall harvest season had been progressing at a very fast pace across most of the Upper Midwest, with harvest nearly completed in many areas. The combination of above normal temperatures together with zero or very limited rainfall from late September until late October has allowed corn and soybean harvest to progress rapidly in most of the Corn Belt, with very few glitches. Very few locations had received enough precipitation during October to cause any delays in harvest progress and Fall tillage. The corn and soybean yield levels have been highly variable across the Midwest, with portions of Iowa, Illinois, and the Eastern Corn Belt having some of their best yields in recent years, while farmers in a large area of Southern Minnesota realizing some of their lowest corn and soybean yields in the past two decades.
 
Based on the USDA Crop Progress Report on October 20, it was estimated that 81 percent of the soybeans in the U.S. had been harvested, which was above the 72 percent harvested by that date in 2023 and was well above the 5-year average of 67 percent harvested. In the Upper Midwest, Minnesota led the way with 95 percent of the soybeans harvested by October 20, followed by Wisconsin at 93 percent, Iowa and South Dakota at 91 percent, North Dakota at 89 percent, and Nebraska at 85 percent. Other soybean harvest figures as of October 20 were Illinois at 76 percent, Indiana at 75 percent, and Ohio at 78 percent. All states were slightly ahead soybean harvest progress a year ago in late October and were significantly ahead of the 5-year average progress.
 
It was estimated that 65 percent of the corn in the U.S. was harvested by October 20, which was well ahead of the 55 percent harvest rate on that date in 2023, as well as the 5-year average of 52 percent harvested. Iowa was the leader in harvested corn acres in the Midwest with 68 percent harvested, followed by Illinois at 67 percent, Minnesota at 66 percent, Nebraska at 63 percent, and Indiana at 61 percent harvested. Other corn harvest figures in the October 20 report were South Dakota at 56 percent harvested, Ohio at 51 percent, North Dakota at 47 percent, and Wisconsin at 44 percent harvested. By comparison, all of the listed states were slightly ahead of the corn harvest pace a year ago and were well ahead of the 5-year average level of corn harvested by October 20.
 
Corn harvest in Minnesota has progressed more rapidly in many portions of southern and western Minnesota, as well as adjoining areas of eastern South Dakota and western Iowa, with many farmers nearing completion harvest for the 2024 growing season. Corn harvest in the eastern half of Minnesota, especially in southeast Minnesota, eastern Iowa, and Wisconsin has been somewhat slower due to having crops that were a bit later maturing and having higher yield levels. Normal planting dates in 2024, together with above normal growing degree units in the summer months in most areas, allowed most corn and soybeans to reach full maturity by late September. Later planted crops and replanted soybeans in the very wet areas of southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa did not mature until after October 1st.
 
Overall, the reported soybean yields across the Midwest have been highly variable, mainly due to excessive rainfall in some locations early in the growing season and limited rainfall late in the growing season in portions of the region. In some cases the same areas of southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa that had near-record rainfall during June also experienced near-record dryness during September and early October. The term “disappointing” was heard a lot when referring to 2024 soybean yields in many portions of southern and western Minnesota, meaning that yields were below the more optimistic expectations that existed in August. Many soybean yields in the region were 10-25 percent below crop insurance APH (average) yields. Most of the western and northern Corn Belt had soybean yields that were lower than the 2022 and 2023 soybean yield levels, while many areas of Iowa, Illinois, and the eastern Corn Belt experienced above average soybean yields in 2024.
 
2024 corn yields have also been highly variable across the Corn Belt. Similar to soybeans, corn yields this year have seemed to be more consistent in much of Iowa and Illinois, and other areas of the eastern Corn Belt that benefitted from more favorable growing conditions from May to July than other areas. Corn yields in many portions of the Upper Midwest seemed too vary considerably, depending on corn hybrids, planting dates, and the level of excessive rainfall early the growing season. There have been some “whole field” yield reports of 200 bushels per acre or higher in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa; however, there have also been yield reports below 100 bushels per acre at some locations in south central and southwest Minnesota. Overall, the 2024 corn yields in the Upper Midwest are not nearly as consistent as the past few years and for many farmers in southern Minnesota will be 10-20 percent below crop insurance APH (average) yields.
 
One piece of good news for producers regarding the 2024 corn harvest has been the harvest moisture of the corn coming out of the field. Most of the corn being harvested this Fall has been under 18 percent moisture, which means that a large portion of this year’s corn crop could go directly in the bin for storage, without the need for additional drying, which is a cost saving to farmers. Corn should be dried to about 15-16 percent moisture before going into the grain bin for safe storage until next Spring or Summer. Some corn that has been harvested was near 11-13 percent moisture, which is actually too dry and results in harvest losses for producers. The test weight of the corn being harvested has also been a pleasant surprise this year, with most corn having a test weight at or above the standard corn test weight of 56 pounds per bushel.
 
Drought Conditions Expand
Limited rainfall and above average temperatures from late August until late October has raised drought concern in most of the Midwest and Plains States. Most areas of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin was listed in “moderate” to “severe” drought by late October, based on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report. Much of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan were also included with a drought designation. By comparison, The U.S. Drought Monitor report on August 20 listed only portions on the southern Plains States, Kansas, and Ohio in any of the drought categories.
 
Total precipitation measured at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca during September was only .48 inches, making it the second driest September on record in the over 100 years of weather data at the site. As of October 28, only .05 of precipitation had been recorded in October. This compares to normal precipitation levels at Waseca of 4.12 inches in September and 2.77 inches in October. For the year, total precipitation is very near normal at Waseca, which is largely due to the 10+ inches above average precipitation that was recorded in May and June this year.
 
2024 was also the sixth warmest September at the Waseca location, averaging 66.9 degrees Fahrenheit, which was just 1.6 degrees below the warmest-ever average September temperature of 68.5 degrees in 1931. Average temperature in October have also been over 8 degrees above normal. The first frost event at Waseca occurred on October 7, which ended the 2024 growing season. A total of 2,781 growing degree units (GDU’s) were recorded from May 1 until October 7 this year, which is 11 percent above the season average total of 2,509 GDU’s.   
 
Fall tillage and manure applications have been occurring as soon as harvest is completed; however, those operations have been more challenging in many locations due to very dry soil conditions. Producers in some areas of the region typically apply nitrogen fertilizer for the corn crop that will be raised in the following year, once the current year’s harvest is completed. It is recommended to wait until soil temperatures are 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to apply nitrogen in the fall in order to avoid significant losses. Soil temperatures have been above that level through most of October. Farm operators are reminded to follow the statewide restrictions for fall nitrogen fertilizer application in their area, and to check with their State Department of Agriculture or Land Grant University for fall nitrogen application recommendations and requirements in their State.
Note - For additional information contact Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst, Green Solutions
Phone - (507) 381-7960; E-mail - [email protected]