Department of Agriculture forecasts bumper corn, soybean crops in Minnesota, Wisconsin

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — Forecasts are calling for a bumper crop of soybeans and corn for Minnesota and Wisconsin farmers this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts record soybean production in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and record corn production in Minnesota. Wisconsin's corn production is expected to be 3 percent higher than last year.

The USDA also forecasts record yields for corn in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and for soybeans in Minnesota. Wisconsin's soybean yield would be the second-highest on record.

The forecasts are based on Oct. 1 conditions. The next ones will be released next month.

Brad Sirianni, farm business production management instructor at Western Technical College, said favorable weather was the big difference for crop yields this year.

"Technology can help with yields, but nothing helps more than Mother Nature," Sirianni said.

Jerry Clark with the University of Wisconsin-Extension told the Chippewa Herald (http://bit.ly/1hQtBsd ) that this year's corn harvest in Chippewa County looks to be 10 percent higher than the normal yield.

Lisa Behnken of the University of Minnesota Extension said soybean yields coming into the regional office in Rochester are exceeding expectations.

"We have seen a lot of solid yields," she said. "That's very good when you go across your farms."

Prices for corn and beans in Minnesota and Wisconsin are the lowest in five years, according to USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service data. It will take time, Siranni said, for the effects of price and supply changes to trickle down to consumers.

With corn prices low, Winona County Farm Bureau president Glen Groth said farmers need to be careful with capital purchases.

"You can't get away with being reckless," Groth said. "You have to be more careful with your operation."