Mielke Market Weekly

Matt Erickson Fertile, Minn. Sept. 8

“We’re dry again.” The Land spoke with Matt Erickson on Sept. 8 as he reported the last rain was 10 days ago when an inch of rain fell. “The crops are starting to mature.” Erickson has been busy making hay. “It’s a slow process.” The Sorghumsudangrass planted in July is now thigh-high. Erickson is happy with how far the cover crop has come — even with the lack of significant moisture for most of the summer. The corn is doing well. Erickson plans to start chopping silage corn in a couple of weeks; the grain corn harvest won’t be for a while. “We still need the month of September.” He expects to combinesoybean in October. That would be the average harvest date for both corn and beans. The temperatures are starting to dip, with days in the 60s this past week. There is a chance of rain tonight; otherwise, no other 2022 moisture is in the forecast. Erickson is hoping that the weather cooperates, allowing no freezing temps at night. This has been a growing season full of dry conditions, but it won’t be known until harvest what the lack of rain means for yields this year. v Leah Johnson Evansville, Minn. Sept. 8

“Things are going well.” The Land spoke with Leah Johnson on Sept. 8 as she reported the bins damaged in a storm earlier this summer are getting new roofs. Johnson is relieved to have the bins fixed and ready to go in time for harvest in a few weeks.

Silage harvest is just starting in the area. “The silage crop is average.” Johnson’s field corn is showing some of the effects of the lack of moisture. “We just got a lot of variabilities.” Some of the corn plants are cannibalizing

Bob Roelofs Garden City, Minn. Sept. 8

FROM THE FIELDS Compiled by KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Staff Writer

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“This heat has sped things up for sure.” The Land spoke with Bob Roelofs on Sept. 8 as he reported the crops were turning fast. There are 30 acres of soybeans that are ready to be harvested. With a chance of rain tomorrow, Roelofs isn’t sure that he’ll be able to get the beans off in the next few days. The later variety soybeans won’t be ready for another two and a half weeks.

“The corn looks excellent.” Roelofs expects to combine corn in the second or third week of October.

While there’s rain in the forecast, there hasn’t been much moisture in the last two weeks; there has been no real, measurable rain on the Roelofs farm. With the rain earlier in the summer, though, Roelofs is not concerned about the recent lack of moisture. “We’re sitting fine for moisture.”

In addition to getting equipment ready for harvest, Roelofs has been attending Farm Bureau meetings this week all over the state.

With leaves already changing on the farm, beans turning and meetings abound, it definitely is starting to feel like fall on the farm. v

themselves. The hillsides are showing signs of washing. “Where it’s good, it’s really good. We are managing our expectations.” Johnson is still tracking white mold in some of her bean fields. “The beans are short, but there’s a lot of pods. It’s hard to know what there is out there for bushels.” Johnson may combine corn first this year, depending on when the beans are to go. It’s starting to feel like fall with temperatures in the 60s next week. “I’m ok with not getting the heat; we don’t need to bake to the finish line. If we could get some rain, that would really help.” Harvest is right around the corner, and Johnson is ready to see what the crops have been up to. “I still feel optimistic. There’s a lot more variability seen from the air than just walking the field.” v  Scott Winslow Fountain, Minn. Sept. 9 “Beans are starting to turn colors.” The Land spoke with Scott Winslow on Sept. 9 as he reported he plans to start harvesting soybeans in a couple of weeks. “The (May) corn is looking good.” Winslow expects to combine that corn in three to four weeks. “The June corn is coming along really good.” He is a little concerned the corn ran out of nitrogen due to all the rain over the summer. Fall temperatures have made an appearance. “A few cold days, some rain coming this weekend.” The farm received 2.3 inches of rain the last weekend of August.

Winslow is gearing up for harvest by checking the equipment and taking one last look at crops for any signs of disease. There is plenty of tar spot showing up late in the area. Winslow doesn’t expect the yields to take a hit because of it, but it could hurt the test weight. He has seen pockets of sudden death syndrome in one field of beans; the yield will be down there.

On the livestock side, he sold a semi-load of pigs this week. He will sell two more semi-loads next week. “It’s going to be a busy one to two weeks.”

Harvest is almost here, and Winslow isn’t as confident in the crops as he once was. “I don’t think we’ll have the yields the farmers were expecting.” v

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