(Lakefield, Mn.)– This growing season is turning out to be one most area producers would just like to forget, given the weather challenges. Jim Nesseth of Extended Ag Services in Lakefield says quite a bit of the top end yield potential for this year’s crop is now gone…
“I think we’ve lost 15, 20 percent of our top end yield potential because when you look at some of these areas where we’re actually going to get zero and some where we may get above yield, maybe get our expected yield potential, but then everything in between. I can’t see it any other way. It’s just going to be one of those years where we just want to kind of keep our dollars together and hopefully live for another year.”
Nesseth encourages producers to stay in close contact with their crop insurance agent…
“I think we’re going to be looking at zeroing out some fields, doing that procedure, and re-plant, I don’t know if that’s worth it right now, by the time we get in there. But we’re firming up some of those points whether the crop would be insurable but really be talking to your agencies and decide where you’re at as far as coverage and that will kind of give you the road map on some of these decisions you want to make on a particular field or crop.”
Meanwhile, Nesseth says development of crops that haven’t drowned out or been impacted by the wetness is actually moving right along…
“Where we had enough aeration in that soil and the planting dates have been pretty good, you know. I mean we’ve had some early planting dates and so yeah, some of that corn is at V-8 stage and better. Where we have some good drainage and some higher ground that crop is probably right along normal development.”
He adds spraying corn for weeds is another challenge. The inability to do that in a timely manner because of all the rain means producers are having to look at alternate methods due to the height of the corn now.
