News

Navy bean harvest progressing for northwest Minnesota farmer

A northwest Minnesota farmer is taking advantage of recent dry weather by wrapping up navy bean harvest before moving to soybeans.

Bryan Klabunde of Mahnomen County says the dry edible bean crop was planted the last week of May and harvest has progressed quickly in the absence of rain.

“We use a machine called a picket, which windrows (the beans).  If you get muddy conditions, it doesn’t work and we have to go to a direct harvest system like a flex-header.  In fact, in some fields it’s still too wet to get in there and lift the beans.”

Speaking to Brownfield Friday, Klabunde was optimistic navy bean harvest could be completed during the weekend and he could join others in the area combining soybeans.

“What looked like such a warm year early is really slowing down for us, so we’re really hoping to get some sunshine and get this weather straightened out.”

Klabunde says navy bean yields are slightly above average, and he expects corn and soybean yields to trend above average too if the mild weather holds.