Corn harvest races on with above-average yields in west central Minnesota

De GRAFF and MURDOCK, Minn. — It's not quite record-breaking yields, but above-average yields are being reported in parts of west central Minnesota, outside Willmar. Getting an early start to combining corn near De Graff was Tony Holleman. He was hauling corn for the farm. He said the soybean crop was harvested and the corn crop was about 50% harvested on Oct. 20. Warm and dry weather has pushed the crop faster than harvesting can keep up with in some cases. He mentioned soybeans were dropping to as low as 10% moisture following a couple days of wind and 90 degrees. "The last week of the 90s that we got really hurt them. So we left some yield out in the field, but other than that it went well," he said. That was followed by cooler temperatures that remained in the 60s without needed moisture. As for corn, he said yields were above average for that area, which averages around 200 bushels an acre. Holleman said the crop looked good all season long aside from a