Mike King, Case IH Combine Product Specialist for Minnesota and Central Iowa (north-to-south) says his customers are surprised by yields that are better than they anticipated. King, who has been with Case IH for 24 years, provides an update of harvest progress in his area.
As one would expect, the further north you travel, the better the corn and soybean crops. Minnesota farmers report average to above average yields in both corn and soybeans this year. My customers are just about 75 percent done harvesting, which is unheard of for this time of year. Iowa farmers are seeing much more variable results. Crop progress is between 60 to 75 percent completed. They are going through fields more slowly because of the variation in yield.
Wide Yield Range
My customers tell me their yields are all over the board. Some parts of a field might have a very good crop while other parts of the field have less-than-average yields. Overall, it’s much better than farmers expected in early September when they began harvesting.
In the southern part of Iowa, we saw an average of a little over 100 bu/acre, then as you work your way north, it keeps improving. Case IH customers in Minnesota are seeing corn yields in the 175 to 200-plus bu/acre range. Soybean yields in both states have been much more consistent, with averages in the 40 to 50 bu/acre slot in Iowa, and Minnesota averages between 40 and 60 bu/acre.
Axial-Flow® Combines and AFS®: A Winning Combination
Overall performance of the Case IH Axial-Flow® combines has been excellent. Customers have nothing but good things to say about their Tier 4 engines – they especially appreciate having more power with less fuel cost.
Since Advanced Farming System (AFS) technology comes standard on all Case IH Axial-Flow combines, producers are making good use of their precision-farming tools. Many of my customers use yield monitors to see harvest results at any given time, and more farmers are using auto-guidance and mapping, too. Well over half my customers use their precision-farming technology to its full advantage, and this number continues to grow as they see the full potential of AFS.
Comfort is Key
Another benefit we often hear, especially as we demo our Axial-Flow combines to competitive owners, is the unmatched comfort, visibility and control in our combine cabs. With their ergonomic and intuitive design, operators get maximum comfort and productivity.
Case IH Axial-Flow combines are proving their worth where it matters most, by helping farmers Be Ready this harvest season. To hear what other producers have to say about efficient power and Axial-Flow combines, watch these videos.
The Harvest Reports from our Case IH Combine Specialists are part of our efforts to help you Be Ready for the challenges and opportunities in agriculture. Watch for more Harvest Reports in the next few weeks, and let us know how the harvest is progressing in your area.
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