News

Michigan grain harvest slightly behind

The executive director of the Michigan Corn Growers Association says the quality of this year’s harvest turned out much better than expected.

Jim Zook tells Brownfield while the weather turned rather wet at the end of harvest, most corn in the state was harvested with low moisture levels.  “We didn’t have the molds that started like they did a year ago, the crop was probably under less stress and I think just paying a little bit better attention to the crop this year as guys knew they need to get every bushel they could with the price being where it’s at.”

He says better growing conditions earlier in the season and proactive plans for managing crop diseases helped crop quality.  “The issue now is with the wet soils—the concern is going to be the compaction that guys are going to do once they get out and go to get that corn.”

In the last crop progress report of the season, USDA says 84 percent of corn was harvested for grain as of Sunday, slightly behind last year and the five year average. Soybeans were 94 percent harvested, on pace with last year.

Zook says the biggest concern for farmers now that harvest is in the bin will be ongoing trade negotiations and the impact they can have on prices.

AUDIO: Interview with Jim Zook