Bryce Knorr, Contributing market analyst

November 4, 2019

4 Min Read

How are your crops faring this year? What are your 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.

Another early blast of winter likely ended the growing season in more areas over the weekend. But growers are still far from done with harvest, thanks to a storm that bought rain and snow to the Plains from one end of the Corn Belt to the other.

Growers posting Feedback From The Field last week rated corn fields slightly higher but downgraded soybeans as more finished harvesting that crop.  With USDA preparing to update its forecast of yields and production Nov. 8, Feedback results so far suggest both corn and soybean yields could edge lower. USDA put corn yields at 168.2 bushels per acre in October, with soybeans making 47.9 bpa.

Yield reports last week continue to show wide variation. Corn estimates ranged from 65 to 250 bushels, with soybeans going from 25 to 70 bpa. While a few growers were pleasantly surprised, it’s clear production is less than 2018.

“Our weather here is just like Husker football,” joked one Nebraska grower with 160-bushel corn and 45-bushel soybeans. “Not very good

“Yields are better than I anticipated with the lack of summer rain,” said a central Illinois farmer who was finishing up corn harvest with beans already in the bin, estimating yields at 200 bpa for corn and 55 bpa soybeans.

Even within the same state progress was varied. One grower in northern Indiana was all done with soybeans and 75% finished with corn. Another less than 100 miles away is preparing for a late fall with corn moisture still at 26%. “We just received over 5" of rain the past 8 days with highs in the low 40's the next 10 days,” was the outlook.

In southwestern Wisconsin, weather was also challenging.

“Lots of corn and some beans to go yet, snow and rain not helping,” reported a farmer there. “I said this spring that it was going to be a disaster before it's over and it's coming true!”

Wet conditions were also causing quality problems on both corn and soybeans, further adding to losses.

“Crop insurance adjuster will be my favorite person this fall!” said a Kentucky farmer.

Follow along with the season by clicking these links:

Feedback From the Field - Oct. 28, 2019 - Yields up as farmers make progress

Feedback From The Field - Oct. 21, 2019 - Yields and crop ratings slip 

Feedback From The Field - Oct. 14, 2019 - Variable yields in Illinois make estimates difficult

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 7, 2019 - Too dry, too wet, and just about right

Feedback From The Field - Sept. 30, 2019 - Rain returns as a worry for growers

Feedback From The Field - Sept. 23, 2019 - Farmers report boom or bust yields after challenging year

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 16, 2019 - Adverse weather pushes down yield estimates

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 9, 2019 - Crops improve despite slow development and stress

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 3, 2019 - Crops improve despite slow development and stress

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 19, 2019 - Crops improve but yields lag

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.

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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