Harvest time has arrived here in Sampson County. Several crops are being harvested as I am writing this–some are already out of the field and some are still growing to maturity. Wet weather over the past few weeks has delayed some farmers trying to harvest corn and tobacco. In some cases, this wet weather has degraded the leaf quality in tobacco due to disease. Hopefully this dry period in the forecast will allow farmers to get their crops out. Here are some things to keep in mind as harvest sets in and actively growing crops come to maturity.

One thing that everyone needs to be mindful of is equipment on the roads. As harvest kicks into gear there will be all types of machinery on the roadways moving from field to field and along with the combine and the tractors with grain carts, there are trucks loaded with grain entering the road from the field. As everyone goes out on the roads, be mindful that there may be equipment where you aren’t used to seeing it and please be patient when behind slow-moving equipment. Farmers, in general, will not be traveling far and if possible, they will pull over to let traffic go past. Be patient and play it safe with farm equipment. This ensures that everyone on the roadway will make it home at the end of the day.

Proper harvester maintenance is important especially this year. It is no secret that commodity prices are lower than they have been in years past. Taking the time to ensure your harvester is well maintained and calibrated helps to catch the grain as it passes through the machine instead of blowing it out the back and onto the ground. The more grain that can be put into the hopper will result in more grain going to market and ultimately more money in your pocket. Taking some time to check behind the harvester to see how much grain is on the ground and adjusting if needed can be well worth the time it takes to do so.

For crops that are still growing like soybeans and cotton there are a few considerations I would like to mention. Insects are here and will be a problem until the first frost. Be wary of insects that attack pods or bowls. Corn earworms, stink bugs and tarnished plant bugs are good examples of some insects to look out for. Corn earworms prefer to eat blooms and pods during this time of the year and are a pest to be mindful of in either full season or double-crop soybeans. Stink bugs affect fruiting soybeans and reach peak populations in late August through early October, primarily in mid-September. High populations can damage both yield and quality. Plant bugs damage cotton squares leading to diminished lint quality. Scouting for all these pests can be done simultaneously since the methods for scouting are the same.

These are just a few things to consider as we near the end of the growing season here in Sampson County. If nothing drastic happens with the weather over the next few weeks, farmers will be making a dent in their corn and tobacco acreage. Stay vigilant over the crops that are still maturing and don’t let disease and insect pressure degrade crop quality. Lastly, stay alert as you enter the roadway and have patience to ensure everyone makes it home safely.