Harvest

yield better

than expected

Soybean prices

highest in years

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Despite very little rainfall from the first week of July until late in the harvest, area corn and soybean yields were surprisingly good this year.

Higher soybean, beef, cattle and milk prices are creating a better than expected market.

Soybean prices are among the highest since 1995-1996, topping the $7.60 mark, according to Chad Larson, Grain Manager at Farmers Co-op of Hanska in New Ulm.

Soybean prices are expected to remain high, at least until the South American winter crop matures.

About two-thirds of the farmers visiting Farmers Co-op of Hanska are selling soybeans, according to Larson. He attributed the higher soybean prices to lower than average yields and the large amount of American soybeans sold to China.

Larson estimated average soybean yields as high as 42 bushels per acre. University of Minnesota Extension Service Brown County Agriculture Educator Wayne Schoper said area soybean yields were "all over the board" with an average around 38 bushels per acre.

Schoper predicted China soybean demand to remain high.

"China has been and will continue to buy lots of soybean meal and other soybean products," Schoper said.

Corn yields were closer to average or better, as high as 180 bushels per acre, according to Larson. However, due to $2.16 corn prices that weren't nearly as lofty as those for soybeans, only about 25 percent of the farmers visiting Farmers Co-op of Hanska were selling their corn.

Schoper estimated average corn yields at 150-160 bushels with lower levels in lighter soils.

Earlier-than-normal spring planting allowed corn roots to go deeper than they otherwise would have, helping plants deal with the mid-summer drought.

"Corn yields were 20-30 bushels better than we expected. We had a nice market run-up late in the harvest," Schoper said. "Lots of it was due to shorter crops throughout the upper Midwest. It just isn't too bad in the countryside right now."

Dry fall conditions aided harvesting and fall tillage. State statistical agencies noted that substantial rains are needed to recharge soil conditions for next year's growing season.