Harvest activity picks up

GIBSON CITY – The 2017 harvest is finally starting to take off here in Central Illinois.

Southeast McLean County farmer Dennis Wentworth had a good first week of harvest activity. They decided to try corn Monday, but it was too wet so they switched over to soybeans. So far, the Wentworths have run their two machines in fields north of Champaign and east of LeRoy.

“We should be able to stay in beans here for four or five days,” Wentworth told The Central Illinois Farm Network Saturday morning. “They look good. I think we are pleasantly surprised with the yield so far.”

Wentworth has concerns over weed control issues and will try to find the right program to put into place next spring.

Gibson City farmer Greg Kerber is hoping to start his harvest in the next week. He is shooting for Monday, but acknowledges that could easily turn into Tuesday or Wednesday.

“I’m anxious and curious about yields. I’ve heard good reports from our area for the little that has been done,” said Kerber.

The soybeans are much shorter than Kerber thought they would be, but he says the quality and seed size look good. Kerber has something to celebrate this fall as he received a new grandson last week. The child’s name is Oliver, which is appropriate for the ag family he was born into.