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South Dakota soybean harvest stalled by weather

The corn harvest is South Dakota is 16 percent complete. The crop is 64 percent good to excellent, and at 89 percent mature, is ten percentage points ahead of normal. East central South Dakota farmer Craig Converse says cool, wet weather has contributed to stalk rot and has slowed field dry-down in what appears to be a good crop.

“We probably aren’t going to get many more good drying days,” Converse told Brownfield Ag News Tuesday. “I think we need to get out there before there’s any field loss, considering the stalk quality.”

The soybean harvest is 28 percent complete – ahead of last year, but 13 percentage points behind average. That weather has stalled Converse’s soybean cutting for three weeks.

“We have this great crop that’s sitting out in the field,” said Converse, “and now the challenge is going to be to get it out and in the right condition and the right moisture that we need.”

What’s been harvested so far, according to Converse, is yielding 60 bushels to the acre or better.

South Dakota’s winter wheat planting is 74 percent finished.

The state’s pastures are 45 percent good to excellent.

AUDIO: Craig Converse (3 min. MP3)