Halfway
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Partners,
We are eat the halfway mark for the 2018 harvest with corn and soybeans. Yields are about as we have been predicting--corn is about trend line (which means good but not best ever) and beans are coming in at what could be the best ever crop. So far we have experienced only a few minor breakdowns and not much more than one harvest day lost. Charlie knows well where the John Deere Parts Depot is located in Milan, and we are now on first name basis with the parts man in Havana at Sloan Implement. We are trying to keep up with the seed bean crop to keep moisture in the seed, and that has entailed some tough cutting and lots of aeration in the bins. This next week does not look like good bean cutting weather and now there could be a problem with quality and beans getting too dry and popping out of the pods. The corn has dried considerably in the field and we will probably be able to run the rest of the crop into the bin without drying. This is not our preference since field dry down seems to involve "phantom yield loss." Our best yields almost always come when we begin harvest with the corn at about 25% moisture. The extra cost of drying the crop is almost always covered with more bushels coming out of the field.
We really appreciate our harvest crew this season. Our truck drivers have put in some long days and stuck with Marcus and me in the field till the combine shuts down each night! Everyone has really pitched in to learn new jobs. We are so thankful for all who have filled in.
The farm economy is not the best but farmers are optimistic about prospects of this good crop harvest. The tariff supplement payments were announced and then decided to only pay half of the amount. They will not cover the price drop. There are beans moving in all kinds of weird directions in the world and the multinational grain companies are profiting nicely. China has not been playing nice in the sandbox for a long time and we realize we will have to endure some short term pain to get things back in equilibrium. I am thankful we have a president who knows how to negotiate and does not back down when others play hardball.
Family is in a good place. Alison got delivered to UChicago last week and starts classes October 1. Everyone else doing well in classes and learning experiences. We missed our niece’s wedding in Virginia due to UChicago orientation but Opa and Oma made it to the big event. Adjusting to fall weather reminds us winter is not far away.
Fall Prices:
Corn 3.19
Soybeans 7.67
Harvest Party is October 20th--hope to see you there!
Steve
