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Tough cutting soybeans driving up diesel costs

A Dekalb / Asgrow field agronomist says many Midwestern farmers are dealing with less-than-ideal soybean harvesting conditions.

Lance Tarochione, who covers western Illinois, tells Brownfield, “Some beans that are so green, and so tough looking, that I was surprised they were even going through.”  He says, “You can’t make good time cutting beans that tough.”

Central Illinois farmer Ken Franklin says it not only slows things down but also drives up already record diesel costs.

“It’s taking a little more fuel when you’re running 2.5-2.8 mph, chewing through some green beans, it costs a little more to harvest them.”  He says, “On the flip side of it, you got a few more bushels out there, so gallons per bushel is down a little bit, but your dollars are certainly up.”

AUDIO: Ken Franklin – Illinois farmer

However, Tarochione says this year most farmers are finding the results worth the added expense.

“Bean yields have been good.”  He says, “I’ve had a lot of people tell me that the beans that they’ve got done are some of the best beans they’ve ever had.”

He says the recent wet weather pattern means soybean harvest is likely to become more of a priority for producers as cutting conditions typically deteriorate later in the year.

AUDIO: Lance Tarochione – Dekalb / Asgrow Agronomist