Much-needed rains come at optimal time for corn, beans in central S.D.

After a dry spell and hot weather in July, the end of the month brought much-needed rain to Potter County, with totals between 1.5 and 6 inches.

They hit at the optimal time for fall crops, farmer Teddy Holwarth said, even if it wasn’t the best for small grains being harvested.

“It’s helping more than it’s hurting,” he said.

Corn just shot up tassels, and beans are flowering and setting their lower pods. They’re reaching the reproductive stage that will help determine yields this fall.

Moisture during wheat harvest frustrated farmers, however. Some were still working to harvest winter wheat, having been slowed by rain and morning dew.

Holzwarth finished winter wheat harvest and was almost one-third done with spring wheat as of Monday, Aug. 4. Winter wheat quality suffered from hot, dry weather earlier this summer, and seeds were light, but the recent moisture hadn’t hurt spring wheat quality, he said. He was also fortunate that a spring wheat field didn’t sustain too much damage from a hailstorm last month.

“Spring wheat looks to be a lot better crop for us around here,” Holzwarth said.

The Holzwarths store most of their wheat on farm and haul it to the elevator as they need room in the bins for fall crops. Just like corn and beans, wheat prices are low.

The corn crop was shorter than usual due to the cool start to the growing season, but it was looking healthy. Ear count was looking good and ears were a good size with good color, Holzwarth said. He’s hoping for rains through the rest of August.

“It sets you up for a good finish,” he said.

Fishing on the Missouri River has been good, Holzwarth reported. While he’s been too busy combining to offer much guiding service through his Forest City Outfitters, friends fill in to take groups of visitors out for him. Soon, it will be time to get ready for pheasant hunting season.

In the coming weeks, he’ll continue the push to finish spring wheat harvest. He plans to plant some winter wheat in September and fertilize other fields for planting corn next year. In addition to farm work, he’s hoping to squeeze in some family time before school starts for his second-grader Aug. 19.