It all comes down to this. Harvest is underway in a few parts of Iowa. 2019 has thrown some knuckleballs, which are far worse than curveballs. Heavy rains, floods, dry periods, late plantings and a shortened growing season come to mind. As we get ready to harvest, it is time to be thinking of what we might be encountering out there, this fall.
Dr. Charles Hurburgh is a grain quality expert at Iowa State University. Dr. Hurburgh says this year produced an unprecedented amount of ?flip-flops in growing conditions.? He says this can make predicting grain quality a little more difficult.
A great example of what has made this soybean season hard to predict is unseasonably late heat which has led to rapid maturity in fields. This is true even in crops which were planted late in the year.
Dr. Hurburgh talks about the increase in ?foreign matter.? He says the lack of a full canopy in many fields led to more instances of late-emerging weeds.
Hurburgh also says to not be surprised to see smaller bean sizes. The late heat and rapid maturing of the plants is the culprit in these cases. However, don?t rule out another flip in conditions which could allow for bean sizes to reach their potential.
The hardest part of predicting this year?s bean crop is nailing down oil and protein contents. Hurburgh says with the changing conditions, it is anybody?s guess.
This could also be the new normal as weather patterns continue to change as of late.
The best suggestion for producers is to remember what you know, but also be ready to learn and adapt to whatever is thrown at us.
