Bryce Knorr, Contributing market analyst

August 19, 2019

4 Min Read
Corn2-081219-800.jpg
Janet Kubat Willette

How are your crops faring this year? What are your early hopes for yields? We’re asking growers about what’s really happening in their fields. Click the Feedback From The Field reporting form and give us your first-hand account on conditions and yields.

Use the interactive map below to see all this year’s reports just by clicking the flagged locations. Click the box in the upper left-land corner of the map to bring up an index of what the different colors of the markers signify and to toggle the week’s reports on and off.

Milder temperatures and at least a little rainfall in most areas improved crop ratings last week according to farmers posting observations on Feedback From The Field. But overall yield expectations remain far below USDA’s Aug. 12 estimates as growers wait out the end of a challenging growing season. Hoping for the best, or at least okay, but fearing the worst is typical

“Most fields have some hotspot yield loss, but timely rains have held us together well,” said a farmer near Lincoln, NE. “Seems like the poor pockets are getting worse but good spots are continuing to thrive.”

Condition of individual fields in many cases depends on when they were planted.

“Received 2 plus inches of rain through the weekend,” was the report from west central Iowa.  “Really going to help finish the beans off here.  Corn looks excellent and so do early planted beans.  Late planted beans will struggle.  I'd say we are on par with yields from last year on the April and early May planted crops.”

But crops are in worse condition elsewhere in areas hard hit by prevent plant claims.

In the eastern Corn Belt, fields that started off way too wet were drying out quickly before receiving a little rain over the past week.

“Crop is needing rain in the worst way,” said a grower in eastern Indiana. “Corn is rolled up.  We are starting to see beans changing color on the lighter ground.”

“Corn and beans typically 2 to 3 weeks behind 5-year average where they typically are this time of year.,” noted a southern Ohio farmer. “Caught rains in the nick of time.  Some corn yellow, shoulder high and tasseled.  Some spots in fields do not have anything.  This will pull averages down.”

After floods, drought and heat, the next question for many fields is when will killing frost arrives.

“Need to be frost free till October 5,” was the hope in eastern South Dakota.

Follow along with the season by clicking these links:

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 12, 2019 - Yields are here, there and everywhere 

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 5, 2019 - Farmers worry that yields aren’t there

Feedback from the Field - July 29, 2019 - Crops improve after heat breaks

Feedback from the Field - July 22, 2019 - Blazing heat wilts crops

Feedback from the Field - July 15, 2019 - Hot, dry week stresses soybeans

Feedback from the Field - July 8, 2019 - Crops improve but development lags on late planting

Feedback From The Field - July 1, 2019 - Crops improve but development lags on late planting

Feedback From The Field - June 24, 2019 - Planting woes aren’t only worry for growers

Feedback From The Field - June 17, 2019 - Acres lost to corn prevent plant mount

Feedback from the Field - June 10, 2019 - Judgement time: Take prevent plant or keep going?

Feedback from the Field - June 3, 2019 - Corn planting deadlines pass as farmers ponder what to do

Feedback from the Field - May 28, 2019 - Growers make progress, but at what cost?

Feedback from the Field - May 20, 2019 - Warm, dry week gets growers in the field as crucial benchmarks arrive

Feedback from the Field - May 13, 2019 - Wet is the word for 2019.

Feedback From the Field - May 6, 2019 - Some farmers in western areas make progress but overall planting remains slow.

Feedback From the Field - April 29, 2019 - Farmers in eastern Corn Belt and upper Midwest face delays.

Feedback From the Field - April 22, 2019 - A few wheels turned but most of the Corn Belt is too wet.

Read more about:

Crop Conditions

About the Author(s)

Bryce Knorr

Contributing market analyst, Farm Futures

Bryce Knorr first joined Farm Futures Magazine in 1987. In addition to analyzing and writing about the commodity markets, he is a former futures introducing broker and Commodity Trading Advisor. A journalist with more than 45 years of experience, he received the Master Writers Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association.

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