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| Corn growers have harvested 95 percent of what is likely
to be a record corn crop. |
Harvest Lags Behind Normal, But Nears Completion, NCGA Notes (11-30-04)
Harvest of
this fall’s
corn crop inched closer to completion last week, as growers had
brought in 95 percent of what is expected
to be a record crop, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
While this year’s
harvest is behind the normal pace, National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) members across the nation have
experienced record-breaking yields and exceptional growing conditions.
NCGA member Matthew
Bennett, who farms near Windsor, Ill., told the Associated Press
a year like this “reaffirms that you’re
not always going to have a frustrating year, you’re not always
going to have bad years, and that there are going to be some good
years.”
Growers outside of the
Corn Belt experienced better-than-ever growing conditions and
yields as well. “The corn pollinated
right to the tip of the ear,” said David Rose, an NCGA member
and Harford County, Md., farmer. “This is a sign of good
growing conditions. We usually lose two or three inches of corn
at the tip.”
This year’s harvest
pace is four percentage points off the five-year average of 99
percent. At this time last year, growers
had completed 99 percent of the harvest, USDA said.
Snow fell in the Great Plains and parts of the Corn Belt last
week, delaying completion of harvest for many farmers. Accumulations
of up to 10 inches were reported in Nebraska, while Kansas, Texas,
Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin also received snow.
Harvest was more than 90 percent complete in 15 of the top 18
corn-producing states last week, while Colorado, North Dakota and
Wisconsin reported 85 percent or less completed.