Staff writer
According to grain elevator managers in Marion County, farmers are happy with the fall harvest so far. After almost a week of warm, dry weather, they have made good progress.
Phil Timken, manager of the Mid-Kansas Co-op elevator in Peabody, reported Monday that 99 percent of the corn in that area has been harvested. He said farmers are reporting yields of as much as 200 bushels per acre, with an average of 120 to 130.
About 80 to 85 percent of the soybeans have been harvested with yields as high as 75 bushels per acre and averages of 45 to 55.
Much of the milo in the county remains to be harvested. In the northern part of the county, the moisture content of the grain remains above 14 percent, at which point it is considered dry.
Stan Utting, manager of Agri Producers in Tampa, reported harvest at 30 to 40 percent complete. Lincolnville and Tampa elevators are piling milo on the ground. Farmers commonly are reporting yields of more than 100 bushels per acre.
Manager Mike Thomas of Cooperative Grain and Supply in Marion said the elevator has taken in more than a half-million bushels of corn, averaging 150 to 160 bushels per acre.
By Monday, the co-op had received 350,000 bushels of soybeans. Full-season beans were averaging 50 to 60 bushels per acre, and double-crop beans were averaging 35 to 40.
At Hillsboro, Cooperative Grain and Supply grain coordinator Dick Tippin estimated corn harvest to be 90 percent complete, averaging 100 to 170 bushels per acre. Soybean harvest is about 80 percent complete, with reported yields of 30 to 60 bushels per acre.
The Hillsboro elevator has received approximately 400,000 bushels each of corn and beans. Milo harvest is 50 percent complete.
Cash grain prices remain volatile. Opening prices Monday morning in Marion were beans, $8.90 per bushel; corn, $3.22 per bushel; and milo, $3.03 per bushel.