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Good yield helps Wisconsin farmer make up for bad prices

A Wisconsin farmer is grateful for this year’s nearly-perfect growing conditions and surprisingly good soybean yields.

Steve Duwe farms near Johnson Creek, and tells Brownfield this has been an exceptional year for soybeans. “My longterm soybean average is usually is up to 55 (bushels per acre) or a little better over all of the past years, and this year, we knocked right on 70 on 370 acres.”

Duwe says that big yield bump will also help his bottom line. “You know, the prices really stink but I just did a little math this morning. Would I be better off with my usual 55 bushel beans at $11.50 or with my 70 bushel beans at $9.30, which they were this morning. The $9.30 with 70 bushels won the dollars-per-acre, so that’s what it’s all about.”

Duwe says a lot of combines are rolling in southern Wisconsin soybean fields, and he’s waiting for corn to dry down a little more.  He is concerned about corn standability issues with some varieties after signs of southern rust and other diseases.