Crop yields reach all-time
highs
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
Agriculture specialists say corn and soybean yields
are reaching an all-time high this year in Indiana.
Indiana is out-producing states like Illinois and
Iowa as specialists are predicting a 160-bushel per acre yield for corn
this harvest season. This forecast outdoes last year's record-setting
corn yield of 147-bushels per acre. Farmers can expect a 49-bushel per
acre harvest of soybeans this fall, a 2-bushel per acre lead over the
previous record of 47-bushels per acre.
Ralph Gann, state statistician for the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, said there are several reasons that crop yields are
reaching all-time highs this year but weather seems to be the leading
contributing factor.
"Because of excellent weather during the germinating
periods, we saw excellent production, the highest ever," said Gann.
"Even though we had some short dry periods, we had adequate rainfall."
Technology had a hand in the high production rate
for crops as well.
"It is a combination of technology and weather
but neither one can probably do without the other," said Gann.
Gann attributes technology's aid in crop production
to an increased variety of seeds, which continues to improve productivity.
Crops are becoming more resistant to insect damage and more tolerant
of weed control activities as well.
"Whenever competition through weeds can be suppressed,
along with the rising absence of insect levels that cause plant damage,
this helps to produce more yields also," said Gann.
Bob Nielsen, professor of agronomy, said planting
time played a role in this year's crop success, too.
"The crop was planted in near record time back
in planting season, which is always a positive influence on yields,"
said Nielsen.
Nielsen said reasonably little disease, low insect
levels and limited heat stress all helped with the promising outcome
for harvest season 2001.
This week, corn prices floated around $2 per bushel.
With the 13-bushel per acre increase forecasted by specialists, farmers
could expect approximately a $26 per bushel sale increase over last
year's corn sale price. Soybean prices are around a low $4 per bushel
this week. If soybeans met the 2-bushel per acre increase predicted
by agricultural specialists, that would mean an additional $8 per acre
for Hoosier farmers.
"The economic benefits are of course an incentive,
but sometimes bragging rights are equally a value," said Gann.
Economic benefits are exactly what Gann said farmers
should try to enjoy this year.
"It's been several years since we set a record
here. You don't set new records every year and to have two years like
this back to back, given poor prices, it's nice to have excellent years,"
said Gann.
Crop yield records set in Indiana this year break
all Midwest records that have been held prior in Illinois, Iowa and
Indiana. The last time corn yields met the 147-bushel per acre record
set last year was in 1992. Soybeans had not met the preceding record
high of 47-bushels per acre since 1994.
As yields reach record levels, storage becomes
a concern for farmers and grain buyers, but not one that can't be dealt
with, said Nielsen.
"It's not that different from any other year when
we have record yields. Most people will put up with that kind of pressure,"
said Nielsen. "The more grain you have, the more you have to sell. Hopefully
this will lead to a better income for farmers."
Although weather was a leading factor in the success
of this year's crop, late October rains may hurt high yields.
"It's keeping folks out of the fields and we have
more rain in the forecast for the next few days," said Nielsen.
He said that with more than half of the state's
crop still in the fields, muddy and cold conditions will only add to
crop damage and frustration for farmers.
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