OTTAWA — The fall harvest is in the back stretch, with farmers hurrying to finish up the last of their soybeans and whatever corn remains. Normally, it’s a good soybean harvest in Franklin County if yields reach 35 to 40 bushels an acre but some producers have reported yields of 70 bushels, said Darren Hibdon, Frontier Extension District agriculture and natural resources agent. The corn harvest has also been much better than average, he said. However, prices for beans and corn have not, and most grain farmers will barely break even. Soybeans and corn are the top cash grains for area farmers. Although wheat is considered the top grain for Kansas, that’s not the case in Franklin County, he said. Because of weather conditions and price estimates, wheat acreage in the county was at a near-record low this year, he said. If anything, wheat acreage will be even lower next year, he said.
Friday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.
