‘Sexy’ Corn Yield Outlook For South Dakota
The 2020 Pro Farmer Crop Tour got underway this morning, with scouts Jay Merryman and Marty Tegtmeier weighing in from South Dakota, near Vermillion.
“We saw a high of 200 and a low of 102 bushels per acre (bpa) in corn,” Merryman says. “If we throw out the low, we’re seeing an average yield of at least 160 and upwards,” adds Merryman, who farms in central Iowa.
“That’s a pretty sexy yield average for South Dakota,” AgriTalk host Chip Flory chimed in during their conversation.
“For sure… we’re seeing a lot of green still in this South Dakota corn crop, lots of green grass as well and fat and happy cattle, too,” reports Master Scout, Marty Tegtmeier, also an Iowa farmer. “The corn here looks very consistent to me; it’s really good to see.”
Tegtmeier and Merryman are teamed up for the western leg of the crop tour this week. Merryman has worked the tour every year since 1995. Tegtmeier has 12-plus years under his belt as a Pro Farmer scout.
The weather outlook for the team this week is for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s.
While the corn crop looks good, Merryman reports that the soybean crop isn’t quite as favorable.
“We’re counting and counting pods… 16 has been the high. I’d estimate South Dakota, here in this area, is looking at yields in the neighborhood of between 45 and 55 bpa,” Merryman says. “So, yields aren’t bad but not as classy as corn.”
Hear the scouts' full report to Flory here:
Since 1993, scouts have traveled dozens of routes across the Midwest. Every crop season is different, and that’s one of the things that makes the tour unique and interesting, Tegtmeier notes.
“This year, it’s the weed control here in South Dakota that stands out to me,” he says. “Last year, the weed control was better than the year before, and this year it’s even better still.”
Tegtmeier says he can tell farmers there have been proactively addressing weed problems, a significant achievement, given the state has confirmed nine herbicide-resistant weed biotypes since 2015, according to the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds (www.weedscience.org).
Merryman says at this point in the season, he is most concerned about the lack of moisture.
“The corn went through pollination fine, but we have some dryness,” he says. “Driving down the road at 60 mph, the corn looks fine. But if you get out in it, it’s pretty dry and the sand spots are getting bigger, especially as you get near the Missouri River.”
On Monday afternoon, Merryman and Tegtmeier will make their way from Sioux Falls, S.D., down to central Nebraska, near Grand Island. Tomorrow, the two will check corn and soybean fields from Grand Island to Nebraska City and head to northeast Nebraska, near Spencer.
2020 is the 13th year Pioneer has been the premier sponsor of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour.
Eastern Crop Tour Starts in Variable Ohio
Follow Mark Bernard on the Eastern leg.
Follow Nick Ehlers on the Western leg.
