Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: Mostly Green in Ohio and South Dakota

The 31st Pro Farmer Crop Tour kicked off on Monday, as nearly 100 crop scouts pointed their headlights toward Grand Island, Neb. and Indianapolis. Ind., this morning. 

Here’s what scouts found on Day 1.

Western Leg: South Dakota to Nebraska

This time last year, more than 36% of South Dakota was covered in drought. This year, that number dropped to 14%, with very little of the state in the severe and extreme drought categories. The moisture changes in the West became apparent in Monday’s estimates.

Sherman Newlin, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scout, says many regions of South Dakota have seen a 180° turnaround from 2022.

“Last year, this region had very low yields because of drought. This year they’ve been catching a lot of rain,” Newlin says. “There’s no tip back here, yet. The dryness coming up could shrink the grain depth and have a small affect.”

July and August rains in South Dakota greened-up the state’s soybeans. Karen Braun, Pro Farmer Crop Scout, foresees South Dakota’s average hitting higher than USDA’s August prediction of 42 bu. per acre.

“Our pod counts are really strong and up from what we would normally see in this state,” Braun says. “If I continue to see these higher pod counts, I think we could come out with a bit higher estimate than USDA’s.”

After four stops in northeast Nebraska (Knox, Cedar County area), #soybeans are averaging 1295 per 3x3' plot versus 1200 on this exact route last year. One irrigated each year, so a very comparable view. #pftour23 pic.twitter.com/m0OUx7T4QO — Karen Braun (@kannbwx) August 21, 2023

Watch AgDay's recap of Day 1 on the western leg: 

Eastern Leg: Ohio to Indiana

USDA estimates Ohio’s corn yield will hit 191 bu. per acre, but Pro Farmer scouts revealed a lower number for Ohio on Monday. The yields are still an improvement from last year.

Growing degree day units might be behind, according to locals. However, scouts saw a more consistent crop this year compared with 2022, according to Brian Grete.

“Ohio is, generally, a hit-or-miss state. There’s a good-quality corn crop here this year, and it’s looking like a hit,” Grete says. 

1st stop in Van Wert county OH district 1. We found the corns. Yield check - 233. But plz send rains #PFtour23 pic.twitter.com/SHLAi84aNQ — Ted Seifried (@TheTedSpread) August 21, 2023

The same story is told in the state’s soybeans, as Josh Yoder’s operation planted the earliest ever recorded.

“We had a nice window to get soybeans planted early,” Yoder says. “Overall, I don’t think we’re going to have a better crop than we saw in 2021, but it will be better than what we saw last year.”

While the early part of Ohio’s growing season saw dry weather, recent rainfalls in the region allowed the crops to bounce back. But fears of nutrient deficiency remain a concern.

“We’ve seen some potassium deficiency flash on our soybeans early in the season. As the next few weeks play out, we’ll find out what kind of impact that lack of moisture really had,” Yoder says.

Growers in Ohio look to retain these projected yields in the last stretch of the growing season through any means necessary, including last-minute fungicide applications put on mere weeks ago.

Watch AgDay's recap of Day 1 on the eastern leg: 

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