After a high-yield wheat season for area farmers, followed by dry weather conditions, corn and soybean crops are “up in the air” according to local co-ops.
Lyle Fischer, general manager at the Le Roy Co-op, said the wheat crop had the strongest yields since 1997, with many farmers generating 70 and 80 bushels per acre.
“Normally you don’t see wheat up in the 60s and 70s,” Fischer said.
Kenny Smail, with the Piqua Co-op, said his farmers brought in similar amounts of wheat — a strong yield for them as well. But, both managers agreed that the future of soybeans and corn will depend on weather and if/when it decides to produce.
“We really have no idea,” Smail said. “It’s going to depend so much on how much rain we get.”
He said due to the late planting of corn, farmers in the Piqua area are expecting a less-than-stellar yield. However, he did say some farmers are having luck with the crops that were planted early.
The rain that fell across the area on Thursday night — which Fischer said ranged from .70 to an inch and a quarter — came at the right time for both crops — especially soybeans. They are in the vegetation stage, which is a crucial time for their growth, and Fischer said any sort of precipitation would directly affect the size of the crops.
“It has yet to be seen,” Fischer said. “Before last night’s rain, things were looking pretty negative, but I think they have some good potential.”
Smail said it is a crucial time for both crops rain-wise, but some of his farmers fear the late corn will have trouble pollinating. As he put it, their fate is truly “up in the air.”
Fischer pointed out that almost anything would be better for corn and soybeans than last year’s drought-ridden summer. An average amount of corn yield, Fischer said, is 100 to 150 bushels per acre — last year farmers were averaging between zero and 60.
“Last year was much worse,” he said.
In the end, both agreed corn will see an improvement, and the rain will decide how much of an improvement. As for the soybean crops, local farmers are still hopeful.
Co-ops are hopeful for corn, beans
