MONROE - Farmers might be looking at higher than average corn and soybean yields, but without some dry, warm weather to harvest the crops it might not be a reality, according to Green County Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer.
"It's frustrating," Mayer said. "We could have record crops, but it won't matter if we can't harvest it."
An acre of corn is expected to produce between 200 and 250 bushels, higher than the average of 155 bushels to 160 bushels, Mayer said.
Soybeans are expected to be up from 45 bushels per acre to about 60 bushels per acre, he added.
The rain, which is needed throughout the summer months to help corn and soybeans grow, has now turned into the enemy as farmers find themselves about three weeks behind schedule in their harvest.
John Wegmueller, who farms near Monroe, estimated he's about three weeks behind schedule with his corn production.
"Most people won't be done until the end of the month," he said. "The calendar is pushing us."
As farmers struggle to get into their fields due to the mud, they also have to worry about moisture in the corn.
Farmers want to get their corn harvested before snow falls, which will create more moisture problems and make it difficult to get the corn out of the fields.
Typically, a bushel of corn is about 17 percent to 18 percent moisture, Chris Guthrie, supervisor at Craigo Grain in Monroe said. Right now, corn is about 30 percent.; it must be at 15 percent moisture so it can be stored.
If corn is not dried to the ideal level farmers lose money on every bushel.
Mayer said it costs about 5 cents to dry a bushel of corn with a 17 to 18 percent moisture content. If the moisture level is at 28 percent, it will cost about 63 cents per bushel to dry, he said. Currently, the average price for a bushel of corn is $3.50, so a farmer who spends 63 cents per bushel to dry the corn will receive $2.87.
"With the increase in production costs, fertilizer, seed and fuel, farmers can't afford to lose money," Mayer said.
Darren Roth, who farms and is also a salesman at Studer Super Service in Monroe, said a lot of farmers are worried.
"This isn't a typical year," he said.
Not only are corn growers concerned about the weather, soybean growers are worried.
Mayer said 75 percent of soybeans should be harvested by now, but only about 20 percent have been harvested, however.
Guthrie said soybeans should have 13 percent moisture but are at about 22 percent.
"As soon as it gets to where you can harvest them it rains again," Roth said.
Soybeans soak up moisture more than corn, Mayer said. Farmers need 10 days to two weeks of dry weather to harvest soybeans, he said.
Farmers might not have a favorable weather outlook for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.
The week's forecast calls for an 30 percent chance of rain during the day Thursday, an 80 percent chance of rain Thursday night and a 40 percent chance of rain Friday.
"It's frustrating," Mayer said. "We could have record crops, but it won't matter if we can't harvest it."
An acre of corn is expected to produce between 200 and 250 bushels, higher than the average of 155 bushels to 160 bushels, Mayer said.
Soybeans are expected to be up from 45 bushels per acre to about 60 bushels per acre, he added.
The rain, which is needed throughout the summer months to help corn and soybeans grow, has now turned into the enemy as farmers find themselves about three weeks behind schedule in their harvest.
John Wegmueller, who farms near Monroe, estimated he's about three weeks behind schedule with his corn production.
"Most people won't be done until the end of the month," he said. "The calendar is pushing us."
As farmers struggle to get into their fields due to the mud, they also have to worry about moisture in the corn.
Farmers want to get their corn harvested before snow falls, which will create more moisture problems and make it difficult to get the corn out of the fields.
Typically, a bushel of corn is about 17 percent to 18 percent moisture, Chris Guthrie, supervisor at Craigo Grain in Monroe said. Right now, corn is about 30 percent.; it must be at 15 percent moisture so it can be stored.
If corn is not dried to the ideal level farmers lose money on every bushel.
Mayer said it costs about 5 cents to dry a bushel of corn with a 17 to 18 percent moisture content. If the moisture level is at 28 percent, it will cost about 63 cents per bushel to dry, he said. Currently, the average price for a bushel of corn is $3.50, so a farmer who spends 63 cents per bushel to dry the corn will receive $2.87.
"With the increase in production costs, fertilizer, seed and fuel, farmers can't afford to lose money," Mayer said.
Darren Roth, who farms and is also a salesman at Studer Super Service in Monroe, said a lot of farmers are worried.
"This isn't a typical year," he said.
Not only are corn growers concerned about the weather, soybean growers are worried.
Mayer said 75 percent of soybeans should be harvested by now, but only about 20 percent have been harvested, however.
Guthrie said soybeans should have 13 percent moisture but are at about 22 percent.
"As soon as it gets to where you can harvest them it rains again," Roth said.
Soybeans soak up moisture more than corn, Mayer said. Farmers need 10 days to two weeks of dry weather to harvest soybeans, he said.
Farmers might not have a favorable weather outlook for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.
The week's forecast calls for an 30 percent chance of rain during the day Thursday, an 80 percent chance of rain Thursday night and a 40 percent chance of rain Friday.