In the cockpit of his modern combine, Dean Adams feels how fortunate he is.

Wednesday, October 03, 2001

In the cockpit of his modern combine, Dean Adams feels how fortunate he is. Soybeans planted in his 1,400-acre field in Glenville have grown much better than he anticipated.

A longer wet period, flood, tornado – many Freeborn County farmers have gone through every possible difficulty this year. But officials are almost certain that the farmers have managed to avoid the worst to come.

Longer spring rains forced Adams to delay planting his beans and corns by about two weeks. The May 1 Tornado almost hit his son driving back from the fields. Then, the hot, dry summer irritated him a lot.

However, last minute precipitation in late July and August, and recent nice dry weather remedied Adams’ crops.

Adams forecasted per-acre soybean yields would be 39 to 40 bushels. But it turned out that the actual yields could be nearly at the average level that is around 45 bushels, he said.

&uot;This year is not an ideal year by any means. But considering what these crops went through beginning to end, I think we are fortunate that we are going to get as good crops as it appears we are going to get,&uot; Adams said. &uot;Year after year there are catastrophes all over. But it is very rare in this area to see complete crop failure. We are very fortunate.&uot;

Adams started the soybean harvesting last Friday and will finish by mid-October. The corn harvesting in another 1,300 acres will follow.

Agriculture specialists were also concerned about Mother Nature’s erratic behavior this year but their fears are more or less eased now by the recent stable weather.

Kendall Langseth, University of Minnesota Extension agent in Freeborn County, points out the yields could be still the lowest since 1993, but crops, particularly beans, have been showing remarkable recovery in the last three weeks.

According to the State Department of Agriculture announcement issued on Oct. 1, 11 percent of soybeans are harvested as of Sept. 28 statewide, compared to 66 percent last year. The soybean condition rating of good to excellent is 49 percent, and the rating has been rising.

The Extension Service estimates the soybean harvesting in the county is about 15 to 20 percent finished.