Phil Gorrell, manager of Kokomo Grain, Inc. of Edinburgh, said grain trucks started pulling in on Aug. 29, approximately two weeks earlier than in most years.

“That’s earlier than normal on crops that were planted later because of a wet spring,” Gorrell said. “A lot of those crops on hillsides, sand and gravel died.”

Yields are anywhere from 21-120 bushels per acre for corn, and in the teens for soybeans. Test weights for corn are 51-56 pounds per bushel, with the majority being 53-54.

“Moisture is all over, with some at 14.4 and probably 20 to 25 percent catching the majority,” Gorrell said.

The cooler temperatures and scattered rains that began in early August may have been “too little, too late,” according to the Indiana field office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Most of the corn and soybean crop was too far along to benefit from the moisture, but it may have helped late-planted crops and double-cropped soybeans.

Extreme lack of moisture and high heat in July and August hastened maturity, but grain moisture remains high.

Although the United States is cruising toward its third largest corn production on record, Indiana’s production is forecast at 826.5 million bushels, down 8 percent from 2010, based on conditions Sept. 1. The yield is forecast at 145 bushels per acre, according to NASS reports.

The 5.7 million acres for harvest is down slightly from the acreage harvested last year, and was rated 34 percent good to excellent.

Twenty-two percent of the corn acreage is mature, compared to 32 percent for the five-year average. One percent of the corn acreage has been harvested, compared to 12 percent last year and 4 percent for the five-year average. Corn condition is rated 34 percent good to excellent, compared to 56 last year at this time.

National soybean production is forecast at 3.09 billion bushels, down 7 percent from last year. In Indiana, the forecast is 222.2 million bushels, down 14 percent from 2010.The expected yield of 42 bushels per acre is down 6.5 from last year.

The expected harvest acreage for beans is 5.29 million acres, down 1 percent from 2010, and the condition was rated 40 percent good to excellent.

The corn harvest in Illinois was progressing at a slower pace than last year, according to the latest Weather & Crops report from the state’s NASS field office.

Five percent of the crop had been harvested, down from 16 percent at the same time last year. The five-year average is 7 percent. Corn maturation was also behind last year, with 46 percent of the crop rated as mature, down from 76 percent last year. The five-year average was 41 percent.

Thirteen percent of the state’s soybean crop was shedding leaves, down from last year’s 38 percent. The five-year average is 20 percent. Forty-six percent of the crop was turning yellow, down from 70 percent last year. The five-year average is 48 percent.

Cornfields harvested in the southern third of the state are showing a lot of yield inconsistency, said Robert Bellm, University of Illinois extension educator, commercial agriculture.

“Yields have been highly variable due to the extreme dryness and heat we’ve had. We’re seeing yields from the low 100s to approaching 200s, and sometimes that’s happening in the same field,” he explained.

Fields that were extremely drought-stressed may show symptoms of ear rot, he noted. “This isn’t going to be the prettiest corn crop as far as quality is concerned,” he said.

The soybean crop has been a frustrating one to project, he explained. Farmers are finding three-bean pods with only two soybeans in them, and two-bean pods with only one bean, he said.

“A lot of our (soybean) fields are extremely tall. They’re armpit-tall. But what we’re finding is tall bean plants that don’t necessarily have a lot of beans on them.”

The third cutting of alfalfa was almost finished, with 94 percent done, up from 91 percent last year. The five-year average is 92 percent.

Late planting dates and spotty rainfall may be causing low yields for some Butler County farmers, said Cindy Meyer of Ohio State University extension, Butler County.

“Some of the producers in the area are taking corn off and they are seeing low numbers, Meyer said. “With the spotty rainfall, the low yield numbers are going to be there. Everything seems to be turning brown.”

Statewide, rain did help revive crops but prevented fieldwork, according to the NASS report for the week ending Sept. 11. Those able to get into fields tilled wheat stubble, planted cover crops, hauled manure and began corn harvest for silage. That harvest was 22 percent complete, compared to 74 percent last year and 47 percent for the five-year average.

Corn in dough was 93 percent, which was 7 percent behind 2010 and 3 percent behind the five-year average, according to the NASS report. Six percent of the corn was mature, compared to 46 percent last year and 20 percent for the five-year average.

Nine percent of soybeans were dropping leaves compared to 49 percent last year and 32 percent for the five-year average, the report said.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 92 percent complete, and that was 7 percent behind last year and 2 percent below the five-year average.

Concerning cucumbers, 87 percent were harvested, compared to 99 percent last year and 88 percent for the five-year average. Fall and winter apples were 16 percent harvested, compared to 24 percent last year and 17 percent for the five-year average. Apples were rated 77 percent in fair to good condition.