Crop reports are for conditions up to November 11, 2021.
Western Maryland
The trees are coloring, while not as pretty as when we receive summer showers but we will take it. Four good nights of hard freezes give us hope winter will bring some healing from insects and disease. Nearly all of the corn and beans are in the bins and the wheat, barley, rye, and triticale are planted. The last of the dairy manure will soon hit the ground and everyone will head to the shop to begin winter repairs and maintenance looking towards spring 2022. Depending on where you are located in the county, grain yields were mostly unaffected but hay and silage yields were down. Looking forward to a better 2022. —Jeff Semler, Washington Co.
Central Maryland
After temperatures dipped down to freezing at night for a day or two last week, we finally have a few warm, sunny days to continue harvest, which rains in the past month had made challenging. On average, I have heard reports of at or above average corn and soybean yields, as well as some local and regional mills being full.—Kelly Nichols, Montgomery Co.
Northern Maryland
In general, harvest ‘21 has been very smooth. Weather has cooperated with the exception of a few cloudy/rainy days in October that stopped combines for a few days. Just about all corn and full season beans have been harvested, the majority of what’s still sanding in fields are double crops. Yields for corn, full-season, and double crop beans have been very strong across the board. Soil temperatures and moisture conditions made for very good cover crop and small grain establishment. The talk of supply shortages, double and tripling fertilizer costs and other rising inputs has put a damper on an otherwise exciting harvest. Hopefully 2022 inputs will not price us out of farming!—Andy Kness, Harford Co.
Upper & Mid Shore
It has been a very smooth harvest season. Bean harvest is winding down, with most farmers finishing full season beans and working on double crop beans. Small grain and cover crops look excellent.—Jim Lewis, Caroline Co.
Lower Eastern Shore
Corn harvest is complete. About 30-40% of soybean has been harvested. Recent floods and high water table in the region have delayed some fields from being harvested. Wheat planting is progressing well with 70-80% of the acreage planted. Early planted small grains have emerged and are looking good at this time. While cover crop planting is still underway, many early-planted fields are already seeing substantial growth. This fall cover crop growth should provide great benefits in terms of scavenging leftover nutrients from the soil. If conditions are favorable, we are expecting a lot more cover crop to be seeded with the extended MDA planting date deadline.—Sarah Hirsh, Somerset Co.
Southern Maryland
Weather conditions have been decent for harvest with the last of the corn coming off now. Farmers are scrambling to finish up soybean harvest as well. Soybeans have been hard to get down to 13% moisture in many cases. Both corn and soybean yields have been very good to excellent. Small grain planting is a bit behind schedule due to the weather conditions as of late. Most folks are getting cover crop and wheat planting finished up this week. This area received its first frost last week; we still haven’t received a hard frost but most vegetable crops are finished. Time to put this season to bed and get ready for next spring.—Ben Beale, St. Mary’s Co.
