The fall harvest of corn and soybeans continues between rain showers, snow flurries and sunshine.

The soybean harvest has nearly stopped while producers wait for dryer weather to resume harvest.

Locally it seems about 65 percent of the crop is harvested. Producers are averaging about 50 bushels per acre. Not quite as good as last year, but still a very good yield.

Wildlife damage continues to be the number one issue reducing soybean yields in this area.

Other things causing yield reductions include herbicide resistant weeds and excessive moisture in heavy, clay soils. There was almost too much rain for some fields this year.

Field corn harvest continues regardless of the weather.

Most corn is harvested as shelled corn, although there is still a small percentage of producers who pick corn and store it in corn cribs. This is mostly just for livestock feed as ear corn is more difficult to sell.

Now that most of the area has received a killing frost, corn will dry down faster. Moisture levels are best at 20 percent or less, resulting in lower drying costs.

Nearly every producer is reporting the same story with regard to yields this year — very good. It is not uncommon to harvest 200 dry bushels per acre. This is shaping up to be maybe the best year ever for many producers.

Not too many years ago, 130 to 150 bushel yields were considered outstanding. Now that is just average and would disappoint many top-end producers.

Improved seed genetics is the leading component to these higher yields, combined with a sound fertility program and adequate weed and pest control. Seed companies invest in research and testing, which results in seed corn exceeding $300 per bag. However many producers believe the newer varieties are the way to go.

Corn harvest is only about 15 percent complete so far, but it is really early. However, if one were to estimate the outcome, the consensus could be the best corn yields ever.

Now some producers will state that since the corn price is about $3.70 per bushel, the extra good yield will only offset the low harvest price.

That could be depending upon each producer’s marketing plan, but one thing is for sure, there should be a good yield throughout the entire region.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.