A local farmer says spirits are high with the wheat harvest complete and the canola harvest well underway. 

Lyle Peters from Henervic Farms says they wrapped up the wheat harvest a week to 10 days ago and the yield was above average. 

“The yield at our farm was actually very good. The plants were short, and both my dad and I didn't think it was going to be as good as it was, but the grain has overachieved for us. We had a number of fields that did over 80 bushels an acre, which is exceptional and some of our early fields were only in the 55 range. Our farm average was right around 75, which is very good.” 

Most of Henervic Farm’s fields are in the Mitchell and Randolph area north of Highway 52. Peters notes many of the farmers he’s talked to in the Southeast had above-average wheat crops, but if you got a bit further west, the summer was drier, and the fields didn’t fare as well. 

Approximately 10 days ago, Peters says they began the canola harvest and as of Thursday, they are about two-thirds done. 

“Same story as the wheat. We weren't 100% sure how good it was going to be and it's very good.”  

He adds “The canola at the end of June was not very happy because it had been so hot and so dry running through June. Then, when the weather switched in July and it became a bit cooler and a bit wetter, the plants really got happy. The canola bloomed for a very long time, longer than normal because of that cooler July. That will be why the yields are good." 

More flowers means more pods and a better overall yield. At one point, Peters says they didn’t think the canola had received enough rain, but the yield would suggest otherwise. He notes “Most of our fields are in the mid-50s [bushels] actually, which is very good for our farm.” 

With the canola harvest coming to a close, Peters says they’re starting to shift their focus onto soybeans.  

“We were hoping to go out Thursday to try some soybeans, but those morning showers came through, so we're hoping to try some soybeans [Friday] and see if they're ready. We think they are so hopefully we can get into that. That would be early for us to be into the soybeans.” 

In fact, Peters says this would be about a week earlier than normal to begin the soybean harvest.  

As far as the crop goes, Peters notes it is really hard to estimate the yield and quality of soybeans before beginning the harvest. That said, he notes “The eye tells you that they're pretty good so I'm hoping that that they also are average or above average.” 

 

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