Local summer harvest yields were not quite what most had hoped for this year and that has a lot to do with the combination of drought and extreme heat that impacted the area almost throughout the entirety of the season.
According to Lyon County Extension Ag Agent Brian Rees, bean yields, specifically soybeans, took a heavy hit from the high temperatures that came at a critical time.
On a positive note, Rees says not all beans are “quite ready for harvest” which means there is a chance they could have taken advantage of some of the rainfall that came through the area over the past month or so.
Speaking of moisture, drought is still a prevalent issue across the local area and Rees tells KVOE News that could be an issue for the winter season mainly for cattle. He explains that when it comes to the winter you want to have plenty of runoff to help refill ponds.
In terms of hay, Rees says the crop was light but the quality was “generally pretty good” depending on where you were located. When it comes to corn, Rees says anything cut for grain was better than what most thought it would be and will be close to an average crop.
The downside to that according to Rees is that the area was set up for a “really good crop.”
For more information or questions contact the Lyon County Extension office by calling 620-341-3220.
