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Farmers: SD soybeans not making the gradeWATERTOWN, S.D. (AP)--Some farmers say the 2008 soybean harvest in South Dakota doesn't seem to be living up to expectations. Earlier, yields were forecast at 45 to 50 bushels an acre. But some farmers are finding that actual yields are in the 20 to 25 bushel-an-acre range. Some stands of beans didn't completely fill the pods or were harmed by cool weather in August and wet, cool weather in the final weeks of maturity. The final insult, farmers say, is that cash prices for both soybeans and corn have nose-dived in recent weeks. Corn dipped below $4 a bushel after reaching record heights of more than $7 a bushel earlier this year. Now, rain has stalled the harvest just as it really got rolling. "Yeah, this rain really set us back," said Chuck Langner, Codington County Extension educator. "The yields have been all over the board this year. "There's some going 20 to 30 bushels and then there's some 40 to 50." Planting was set back up to two weeks due to a cool, wet spring. Then good weather in the middle of summer, coupled with timely rains, helped the crop. August was another story. "That cool August really set us back," Langner said. "That's a time of year we expect to see some real growth." The U.S. Department of Agriculture still predicts record harvests in South Dakota for both corn and beans. The harvest is about two weeks behind normal. Soybeans are probably about 60 percent harvested, Langner said, adding that very little corn for grain has been picked. "The corn isn't really ready yet," Langner said. "It's still pretty wet. There are guys that want to get started, but it's just too wet. "There's been some high moisture corn taken, but it's still 20 to 25 percent (moisture). "All summer long, it looked like we were gaining ground. But we just never got caught up. 10/27/08 Date: 10/21/08
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