This week we caught up with Randy Mann, a soybean farmer from Auburn, Ky. Mann says he has been busy harvesting corn, and he’s also preparing for soybean harvest, which will hopefully start the beginning of next week.
Q: What have you been doing in the fields this week?
A: We shelled corn until last Saturday night and then the thunderstorms rolled in to our area. Over the weekend we had about an inch of rain and the ground was pretty wet until Tuesday. We have not cut soybeans yet, but they are getting close. We could probably start harvesting soybeans starting next week.
Q: How does this year’s crop/harvest compare to last year?
A. Soybeans are maturing on-time. We normally start harvesting our group-five maturities around the middle of October, so we are almost on time. Our late soybeans that were planted after wheat harvest, which we double-crop with soybeans, are starting to turn yellow and lose leaves. We will likely start harvesting those soybeans from October 20 to October 30.
Q: Are there any challenges you’ve experienced this week?
A: Wet weather is what we are concerned about this week. We are worried about ground flooding in the bottoms, because of the recent ample rainfall. Our fields are getting very soft and getting those soybeans out could be a challenge if it keeps raining. As far as the maturity, the soybeans look great. We just need dry weather so we can start harvesting next week.
Q: What is one thing that you would like your customers to know?
A: The soybean harvest in Kentucky is going very well. There are a lot of soybeans already harvested and yields are excellent. We are going into fall with what looks like an excellent quality crop – as long as we get good, dry weather. I have talked to several of my farmer friends that are reporting 50 to 60 bushels soybeans per acre. I hope our customers take note that yields have been pretty good across the United States and come to us when they are looking for a crop with consistent yield and quality.
Sept. 19, 2013
This week we visited with Randy Mann, soybean farmer from Auburn, Ky. Randy is the U.S. Soybean Export Council chairman and American Soybean Association secretary. He shared with us that corn harvesting is going well so far, and he anticipates a strong soybean crop this year.
Q: What have you been doing in the fields this week?
A: We just got started harvesting our corn crop this week. We are not doing anything with soybeans this week because the plants are just now starting to mature and turn yellow.
Q: What’s one challenge you are faced with this week?
A: Working on our grain dryer has been our biggest challenge this week.
Q: What do you want your customers to know?
A: Our corn harvest is going very well on our farm and in the state of Kentucky. The moisture level has decreased so we can get in the field and the quality of our crop has been very good so far. Our soybeans look very good too. The quality looks like it will be very strong and the yields could very surprising. Kentucky could have an excellent soybean crop this year.
August 28, 2013
This week Randy Mann shared with us his excitement of his crop this year. The weather conditions have been great for soybeans in Kentucky.
Q: What have you been doing in the fields this week?
A: We have just completed spraying fungicide and insecticide on the soybeans this past week. Everything is looking good.
Q: Are there any challenges you’ve experienced this week?
A: The weather conditions have been great. We have had ample rain for all of the crops – corn and soybeans. We finally received some good heat, so the soybeans have been growing really well this past week. They are maturing at the perfect pace and we should be able to start harvesting our corn in a couple of weeks and our soybeans near the beginning of October.
Q: What is one thing that you would like your customers to know?
A: Everything is looking great. Soybeans are in excellent condition as far as Kentucky is concerned. They are growing at a normal pace and with the good heat and rain we’ve had, we should be in a good condition to provide our customers with a great crop.
July 16, 2013
This week Randy Mann shared with us that the weather has been great in his area for his family’s soybeans, corn and wheat, but he anticipates drier weather might pose some challenges down the road.
Q: What have you been doing in the fields this week?
A: We’ve been putting wheat in and threshing it, and I’m glad to report both yield and quality are really good. We still have a long way to go, but the weather has been great for harvesting our wheat. We recently had a good rain, so our soybeans and corn are looking good as well.
Q: What’s one challenge you are faced with this week?
A: Everything has gone pretty smoothly. We’ve been waiting for the fields to get drier. The wheat is still wet right now when we bring it in from the fields. There is a bit of a hold-up waiting for drier conditions so the wheat is suitable to market.
Q: What do you want your customers to know?
A: We are trying to take good care of our wheat, especially for our overseas customers who prefer our grain. And we’re trying to do it in a timely manner to provide a quality product. We also want them to know that our other crops, both soybeans and corn, are doing really well.
June 18, 2013
This week Randy Mann shared with us some of the challenges he’s experiencing with weather and his focus on providing a top-quality product to his customers overseas.
Q: What have you been doing in the fields this week?
A: Well, we’ve been getting some soybeans, wheat, and corn in since Thursday of last week. The yield of wheat is pretty good as well as the quality, but we’ve still got a long ways to go. The weather has also been really beneficial for getting crops in.
Q: Are there any challenges you’ve experienced this week?
A: No, everything’s going pretty smoothly, the crops look really good right now. We’ve been waiting on the drier weather since the crops are still coming in wet out of the field. We’ve experienced some hold ups for the drier circumstances, but ultimately we’re just trying to get it to suitable conditions to the point where we can market it.
Q: What is one thing that you would like your customers to know?
A: Well, we are trying to really take care of our wheat, especially for our overseas markets. We’re focusing on the quality of our grain, the handling and care, trying to get it in a timely manner, and to provide a quality product.
About Randy Mann’s Farm: Randy raises soybeans, corn, wheat, barley, and cattle on his farm with his wife, Anne.
