Bean Harvest

Rick Brunie of Hazelton is harvesting garden bean seed near the Snake River Canyon--Steve Ritter Photo

Futures Markets Slightly Down, Corn and Bean Harvests Behind

Chicago--Harvests are behind schedule for corn and beans with only 9% of the crop thus far compared to 21% normally on this date. On the bright side unusual mild fall weather has limited the risk of early frost damage.

Corn markets are stronger in parts of Iowa as feed users and some ethanol plants have come up short before harvest. Key players in the region are up 10 to 20 cents a bushel in the past few weeks. Along the river system, basis was on the defensive as barge rates were up for shipments to the Gulf.