The old expectation for corn to be knee high by the first of July is surpassed, as this year’s crops dwarf their regular summertime heights.

Marc Hutlet, of Marc Hutlet Seeds in Ste. Anne, states that the recent heat combined with this summer’s few timely rainfalls have created an ideal condition for crops such as hay, sunflowers, soybeans and especially corn, to grow.

Notes Hutlet: “It's been a long time since we’ve had crops like this by July. More often than not they are slightly over two feet high at this stage and now a lot of fields we’ve walked in are six feet tall already.”

Hutlet suggests the robust nature of this year’s fields will likely make up for the meager yield of corn farmers saw last summer due to drought. “It was a tough year to get an average forage yield and this year we seem to be recapturing some of that stock and that’s a good thing,” says Hutlet.

The only small problem cornfields have experienced this year, Hutlet indicates, is the occasional high winds, which can break stalks that have grown tall prematurely. Though, he maintains, that even this setback is only minor.

“In order to fully max out the crop’s yield potential”, Hutlet states, “a bit more moisture is needed.” Nevertheless, he expects farmers to benefit tremendously from this year’s yield.