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Uneven crops causing storage concerns

Uneven crop development could result in challenges storing corn and soybeans this fall.

University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says a wet spring stretched planting dates.

“We end up with some mature beans (and) some not so mature green beans, and it’s problematic to try to put all of that seed together in the same bin.”

West central Minnesota farmer Richard Syverson tells Brownfield he’s concerned about storing grain.

“Those short plants are going to produce small ears, but they’re going to be soft, mushy kernels with high moisture. It’s going to make operating a grain dryer just a super hard challenge this year.”

And southeast Minnesota corn and soybean grower Gail Donkers says there’s a lot of variability in her crops.

“The beans are going to mature at different rates, so also we’re going to have different dry-down rates. So it’s going to be a little bit of a challenge this fall I believe.”

Brownfield spoke to Donkers, Syverson, and Nicolai during the 2024 Minnesota Farmfest in Redwood County, Minnesota.

Dave Nicolai interview:

Richard Syverson interview:

Gail Donkers interview: