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Soybean harvest 2 to 3 weeks away for SE Minnesota farmer

A farmer in southeastern Minnesota anticipates soybean harvest beginning in two to three weeks.

Brennen Toquam of Blooming Prairie says most of the crop is changing color.

“Some more so than others depending on maturity and planting date a little bit, but I think everything is starting to drop leaves and those pods are fully developed in there and just need to dry down and get to a point where we can go get them with the combine.”

USDA’s latest weekly crop report says 33 percent of Minnesota’s soybeans are changing color, nine days behind last year and almost a week behind the five-year average.

Toquam tells Brownfield about a third of his corn has reached milk line.

“It’s going to put us at black layer right around October 1st, so then you’re at 32, 34 percent (moisture) corn. And then we’ll just dry down from there.”

Statewide, 55 percent of corn is at the dent stage or beyond.  That’s ten days off last year’s pace and five days slower than normal.

The corn for silage harvest is nearly 20 percent complete, sugarbeets are six percent harvested, and small grains harvest is nearing completion.