Grain Gleanings

Harvest 2025

By Matt Morog, Grain Department Manager

Soybean harvest is progressing very quickly around the countryside. I think we hit peak bean harvest in Marion on Wednesday. Soybean space allocation as of today is not an issue system-wide, but we may get slowed down if we run tight on space in house and must shove more beans to the piles. Yields across the country have been very good. We have been hearing a lot in the mid 60’s. Unfortunately, just like last year, soybean moisture dried up quickly. At 8% moisture we are losing 5.4% of yield, 9% moisture is 4.4, and 10% is 3.3% yield loss. Bean bids in December through March offer a good carry to those looking to move beans out of the bins. Please call with any offers.

Corn harvest is quickly approaching. With the yields in the country predicted to be as high as they are, our truck houses will be busy piling and transferring to Lyons and Marion. Corn at Lyons and Marion will be hitting shuttle trains. Overall, we do not have a space issue but could be slow for a day between corn shuttles. Corn truck lines will likely be longer than usual at all facilities, so I ask for everyone’s patience as our operations crew works as quickly as possible.

We hope everyone continues having a safe and successful harvest. I appreciate the business and the trust that you have given us at CFC to be an asset to your operation during this busy time of year.

10/3/2025

Harvest Preparedness

By Rebecca Johnson, Grain Location Manager, Salem

Fall has officially arrived and, depending on location areas, some harvesting or testing of grain readiness has begun.  Since markets at least started the week lower, one can assume that the prediction of an above average crop yield is highly likely.  

Harvest this year will more than likely be different than we have seen lately, as far as volume per acre.  More volume usually means longer lines and longer harvest time so don’t forget to prepare yourself and others who help you.  The long hours, loss of sleep, stress, decrease in family time and lack of nutritious meals can weigh heavily on you both physically and mentally.   All these factors even by themselves can contribute to decrease in focus of task at hand and in return can result in unsafe practices resulting in accidents, injuries or even death.

Here are a few helpful safety tips to follow as one maneuvers throughout the harvest season.

1. Try to keep equipment and yard maintained. (Helps to lessen chances of breakdowns.)

* Never work on equipment that is running.

* Make sure emergency brake is on if you must work on a slope or uneven ground. Try to be on a flat surface if possible.

* Replace worn parts.

* Make sure safety guards are properly placed.

* Make sure windows and mirrors are attached and clean.

* Remove limbs of trees that hang down.

* Keep your local electrical company phone number with you.

2. Refresh yourself on equipment by referring to the manuals.
3. Have an emergency plan in place.

* Know which field or location each worker is supposed to be at, so if they don’t show up at a given time or answer a call you know where to start looking for them at.

4. Take time to train all the people you plan to run your equipment.
5. Be conscious of where people/ kids are when moving equipment.

* Designate a safe area for kids to play.

* Always check under and around equipment before moving it.

6. Feeling fatigued, stop, go in and rest.

* Drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages only help for a short period of time, if at all.

* A nap or good night’s sleep is what one really needs to rejuvenate and reduce the risk of injury.

* Though it is hard to stop when you feel you should keep going you need to take care of yourself.

7. Make sure you have adequate lighting and markings on your equipment.
8. Practice grain bin safety.

* DO NOT ENTER a grain bin with grain in it without taking proper precautions.

9. Beware of Machinery entanglements.
10. Maintain a nutritious diet.

Wishing all a safe harvest.  Thank you all for your patronage to CFC/Fremar.

9/26/2025

Busy Harvest

By Hunter Behrens, Grain Originator, Lyons

You could call this week the calm before the storm with a few early planted beans beginning to be combined early this week. However, with the precipitation expected throughout the rest of the week it will more likely delay harvest till next week where I expect bean harvest to be in full swing. After a good growing season with most of the trade area seeing above average rainfall, I am anxious to hear good yields and expect a busy harvest. As far as the market goes, corn and beans started off strong rallying on Tuesday, but Wednesday’s session took most of that away. The main driving factor was the soy oil market dropping 115-140 points; it was oil’s first lower close in six sessions. December corn matched the high from Tuesday but couldn’t close at the high finishing nearly 3 cents lower and right on the hundred day moving average. The weakness in soybeans likely pulled corn with it. The market will continue to stay stagnant until we see more export demand in beans and if we see a shift in expected yield on corn. I hope everyone has a safe and speedy harvest. Any question, please reach out to your originator or elevator manager on marketing grain, harvest policies and hours this fall.

9/19/2025