We Have Begun
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Partners & Friends,
Harvest has started in earnest. We have completed 230 acres of corn and 25 acres of soybeans. Early yields are good; above average. Moisture for the corn ranged from 19-23%. Beans were around 11% on Monday night when we got started at dusk. The ground is very dry right now; the 1/2 inch we received last night was very welcome. We intend to seed rye for a cover crop on about half of our corn acres going to beans next year. The new-to-us combine is operating great and it’s so fun to watch a machine adjust on the go to different crop conditions. We have commented about how amazed those who have farmed before us would be to sit in the cab of one of these machines and see the harvest capacity and all the data we are collecting! We added another CDL driver this week with Ryan passing his driving portion of his exam. Congratulations, Ryan! Our driver capacity is definitely improving this fall. Another WIU student is scheduled to take his test next week. The new wet bin has given us increased capacity and we are able to do a lot of drying when we are rained out (like we are today) and when we switch over to beans. The plan has come together! Riders are welcome!
The global economy is putting pressure on commodity markets. Beans look to threats from good Brazilian seeding weather, good yields, reduced port shipping capacity due to the hurricane, and the fact they are a least-cost planting option next year. Input prices for this next year are climbing fast. The extra margin from higher corn and bean prices has evaporated. Some chemical inputs will be unavailable next year and parts and equipment are getting hard to source.
Family is great. We took a quick trip to St Louis last week for baby-holding and volleyball. Ali went back to Chicago for her senior year. Schoolwork is keeping most grandkids occupied.
Fall Prices:
Corn 5.07
Soybeans 12.27
Keep in touch! Questions and comments welcomed.
Steve
