An Irish native, who has set up a seed business in Kentucky has confirmed that the maize harvest in the United States (US) is now 60% complete.
Brian Caldbeck expects that the remaining crops will be cut in pretty short order.
The Laois native operates a seed business, supplying farmers throughout the US with non-GM (genetically modified) varieties of oilseed rape, oats and peas.
He has been working in that part of the world for the past 20 years.
US maize harvest
Caldbeck reflected on the current state of the US grain harvest courtesy of his input to the latest Tillage Edge podcast.
He confirmed that most crops have yielded well in the US this year.
“The one downside has been wheat crops in places like Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. A lack of rain throughout the growing season hampered crop growth in those areas,” he explained
“However, in contrast, wheat crops have done particularly well in places like the Dakotas and here in Kentucky.”
Maize, soya and winter wheat are the main combinable crops grown in the grain-growing regions of the US.
The following yields can be expected in an average year: Winter wheat, 5t/ha; maize, 12t/ha; and soya, 5t/ha.
“Our wheat yields are lower than those obtained by European farmers. The practice in the US is to grow a very high quality red milling wheat,” Caldbeck continued.
“These are very profitable enterprises, on the basis that crops do not succumb to fusarium attack.
“Wheat crops are planted out in October and harvested the following June. In fact, wheat drilling is well underway at the present time.”
Summer
The early summer harvest allows farmers to follow the wheat directly with crops of soya bean.
“This is called double-cropping,” Caldbeck explained.
“In other words, farmers can expect two harvests in the same calendar year. Here in Kentucky we receive more rain on an annual basis than would be the case in Ireland.
“The average spring and summer temperature is in the region of 30°C. As a result, crops grow well, if there is moisture in the ground.
“So assuming that the rain does fall throughout the summer months, double cropping is a viable option.”
Caldbeck confirmed that this approach to tillage farming can be profitable.
“But there are two down-sides. One is the additional wear and tear on equipment; the other is labor availability,” he stressed.
“It is becoming increasingly harder for farmers to get the workers they need at those important times of the year.”
