Source: Kaitlyn Albers, University of Minnesota Interim Extension Educator – Wright, McLeod and Meeker Counties
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service October 17, 2022 report, low temperatures allowed 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Reports indicate that while experiencing cold and dry conditions, the weather was good for harvesting corn, soybean, and sugarbeet fields. However, area farmers experienced difficulties with fall tillage due to the dry soil conditions.
Topsoil moisture condition rated to 12% very short, 36% short, 50% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 11% very short, 34% short, 53% adequate and 2% surplus.
Corn in the mature stage reached 96%, 3% less than the maturity level reached last year, but 4% higher than the 5-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 36%, six days behind last year, but four days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn moisture content at harvest averaged percent. Corn condition rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 28% fair, 48% good, and 14% excellent. Corn silage was 98% harvested. Soybeans harvested reached 83%, six days behind last year, but nine days ahead of the 5-year average. Sugarbeet harvest was at 82% finished, with 20% being harvested over the past week. Sugarbeet harvest is ten days ahead of the 5-year average.
Thank you to the area seed businesses for participating in the 2022 McLeod County Corn & Soybean Growers Association corn test plot. The test plot was located south of Hutchinson, on Dean Zimmerman’s farm. A total of 18 entries were planted on May 7, and harvested on October 12, 2022. The average yield was 210.2, bushels per acre and the average moisture was 20%. The yield ranged from the highest yield of 229.3 bushels (Beck’s Hybrids 5145Q) to the lowest 172.5 bushels (Hefty Seed Company H4322VT2Pro).
View the 2022 corn plot results or visit the Minnesota Corn Growers Website crop trials page.
Contact the McLeod County Extension office at 320-484-4334 or stop by for your copy of the McLeod County Corn Plot results.