Rugby elevator filling fast
The Rugby Farmers Union Elevator is filling fast, with small grain harvest 95 percent complete in Pierce County, according to Tim McKay, elevator manager.
Finding enough storage has been a bit of a problem. “Everybody’s kind of run out of room,” commented McKay. A few piles of wheat have been sitting outside, but for the most part the grain is being stored. Even the stuff that is piled has been moved as quickly as possible.
Last year some of the farmers took out loans on their stored grain, said Gary Kraft, director, Farm Service Agency. This year they sold that crop for a higher price, he added.
“The bulk of our producers don’t have enough storage,” said Kraft. “We can help them with that.”
The crop itself is looking good, though. With a slightly smaller yield in the small grains, it is an above average crop, according to McKay.
Kraft agrees with McKay, “The crop is excellent.’
With the wet weather of the last couple of weeks, the small grain harvest has not had its quality compromised. McKay said it is because of extra work and time put into bringing the crop in.
Protein wasn’t good last year so area farmers made some changes to try to increase the protein, said Kraft. It has been a good change. The protein is better this year, according to Kraft.
The greatest challenge to the crop has been days upon days of wet weather.
“(Rainy weather) takes a toll on the crop and the producer, ” said Kraft.
Karlyle Erickson, Pierce County extension agent, agrees that there has been too much moisture. “It needs to dry out more before row crops are harvested,” commented Erickson. “The county needs sun to help the row crops along.
“I suspect that the row crops should be above average as well,” said Erickson. “Sunflowers may be closer to average.”
“They all look good as long as we can get the row crops off before snow,” added Kraft.
Its been too wet for haying. However, many in the county were done before the most recent rains. Others, in some areas of the county, are still trying to get their hay cut. Warmer weather would really help the situation.
Despite the delay in getting it cut, the hay crop that has been cut looks good, according to Erickson.
The forecast for North Dakota crop production for 2010 shows soybeans about 20 percent above last year’s yield and may even average a record high 37 bushels for harvest acre, according to statistics provided by the USDA.
Corn in the state is expected to be up approximately 27 percent from last year. Corn for grain yields are predicted to average a record high 140 bushels per harvested acre in the state.
Rugby elevator filling fast
The Rugby Farmers Union Elevator is filling fast, with small grain harvest 95 percent complete in Pierce County, according to Tim McKay, elevator manager.
Finding enough storage has been a bit of a problem. “Everybody’s kind of run out of room,” commented McKay. A few piles of wheat have been sitting outside, but for the most part the grain is being stored. Even the stuff that is piled has been moved as quickly as possible.
Last year some of the farmers took out loans on their stored grain, said Gary Kraft, director, Farm Service Agency. This year they sold that crop for a higher price, he added.
“The bulk of our producers don’t have enough storage,” said Kraft. “We can help them with that.”
The crop itself is looking good, though. With a slightly smaller yield in the small grains, it is an above average crop, according to McKay.
Kraft agrees with McKay, “The crop is excellent.’
With the wet weather of the last couple of weeks, the small grain harvest has not had its quality compromised. McKay said it is because of extra work and time put into bringing the crop in.
Protein wasn’t good last year so area farmers made some changes to try to increase the protein, said Kraft. It has been a good change. The protein is better this year, according to Kraft.
The greatest challenge to the crop has been days upon days of wet weather.
“(Rainy weather) takes a toll on the crop and the producer, ” said Kraft.
Karlyle Erickson, Pierce County extension agent, agrees that there has been too much moisture. “It needs to dry out more before row crops are harvested,” commented Erickson. “The county needs sun to help the row crops along.
“I suspect that the row crops should be above average as well,” said Erickson. “Sunflowers may be closer to average.”
“They all look good as long as we can get the row crops off before snow,” added Kraft.
Its been too wet for haying. However, many in the county were done before the most recent rains. Others, in some areas of the county, are still trying to get their hay cut. Warmer weather would really help the situation.
Despite the delay in getting it cut, the hay crop that has been cut looks good, according to Erickson.
The forecast for North Dakota crop production for 2010 shows soybeans about 20 percent above last year’s yield and may even average a record high 37 bushels for harvest acre, according to statistics provided by the USDA.
Corn in the state is expected to be up approximately 27 percent from last year. Corn for grain yields are predicted to average a record high 140 bushels per harvested acre in the state.