Crop yields improve in 2013
By Pat Shaver, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Average corn and soybean yields in
Corn yields in
"Compared to the year before (2012) which has the worst drought in 10 years, it was a much nicer year in 2013 with harvest," Bowman said.
Last year wasn't without challenges for farmers, he said. They recovered from 2012's drought with a wet first six months of the year, that then turned extremely dry.
"There were all kinds of planting delays, things got planted in less-than-optimum conditions. But we still did well despite the fact that the rain cut off in June," he said.
Corn yield averages in
The top yielding corn county last year was
"We were just extremely dry. Most farmers I've talked to were pleasantly surprised we came in where we did because we were that dry," Haab said. "Soil type and rainfall makes a big difference."
Haab said yields can vary drastically even throughout one county. In
"When you have fairly timely planting and good rains throughout the season, you get good yields. We've had better, but for what the growing season was last year, it was a darn good year," Hawkins said.
In a perfect year, there would be cooler than average temperatures and an inch of rain every 1-2 weeks during the growing season.
"Weather that's not too hot and not too cold, it's the Goldilocks syndrome," he said.
Hawkins said good corn yields are between 190-200 bushels per acre; and ideal soybean yields are 55-60 bushels per acre.
Soybean yields in
The average county yields are used each year to figure farm rent benchmarks, farm programs and insurance decisions, Bowman said.
"There are a lot of economic decisions that are based on the county average yields," he said.
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