Bringing in the 2012 harvest

By STEVE ROUSH
The Highland County Press

The worst drought in decades reportedly affected 80 percent of farmland in the U.S. this year, but local farmers say they are “blessed” to be bringing in a good crop.

Until the recent rain – and snow – combines could be seen bringing in the harvest around Highland County.

Steve Ventura, who owns Master Feed Mill in Hillsboro and farms 400 acres, says he’s been seeing good yields this year, and farmers bringing corn and beans to his North West Street business have been reporting good results, as well.

“We’ve been very, very blessed in this area,” Ventura said this week.

“I’ve got all my beans in and averaged about 50 to 52 bushels per acre. And we’ve still got some corn left to harvest, but we’re getting good yields and the ears are full. I’d call this a good year for farmers in this area, but you don’t have to drive very far to hear the horror stories.”

Kevin Stroud, who farms several thousand acres in the area, said local farmers really dodged the drought bullet this year as timely rains really helped this year’s crop.

“I’ll take it,” Stroud said of this year’s harvest. “We’ve had a pretty good crop, but you don’t have to go very far to find folks who had bad crops.”

Stroud said pretty much all of his soybeans have been harvested, and while he still has some corn left to combine, what he has harvested has produced good yields.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in October that half of the corn crop in the United States is classified as in poor or very poor shape.

The USDA also said that one-third of the U.S. soybean crop is considered poor or very poor.

“We’ve been really fortunate this year,” Stroud said.