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Above-average soybean yields in southern Minnesota

 

Above-average soybean yields are being reported across southern Minnesota.

Farm management analyst Kent Thiesse says many producers are getting an extra five to ten bushels per acre where there haven’t been serious weather challenges.

“Now, you get in some of those areas (with challenges) and the yields are probably falling a little closer to average, and in some cases may drop below if you’ve got some severely damaged fields.  But overall, I think it’s been kind of a pleasant surprise with the harvest so far.”

He tells Brownfield there’s not as much optimism with corn.

“The corn, in addition to the heavy rains and hail, some areas of the state had that mid-May frost that caused some damage and some late season disease challenges.  So I think the corn yields are going to be much more variable.  There will be some (that) are very good, but there’s also going to be some that won’t be quite as good.”

The USDA’s latest yield estimates for Minnesota peg soybeans at 49 bushels per acre and corn at 186, both above normal but below a year ago.