Harvest Season approaches for regional farmers

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Harvest season is underway, at least for some crops.  Harvest season marks the time when mature crops are gathered from the fields, but timing varies.

Wheat is typically harvested between June and August in North America, while corn and soybeans are harvested from September through November.

When it comes to crops, Missouri is known for soybeans and corn. USDA’s 2024 state agriculture overview, Missouri farmers harvested 5.8 million acres of soybeans and 3.3 million acres of corn. 

Across the river, Kansas harvested about 5.8 million acres of corn last year, outpacing Missouri.

Reaching harvest isn’t easy. Farmers face challenges such as weather, equipment costs, economic pressure and the natural stages of crop growth. 

Most crops go through five stages: seed germination, vegetative growth, reproduction through pollination, fruit or seed development and full maturity.

Each step requires the right conditions. Too much or too little rain, poor soil moisture or equipment failures can all threaten yields, a measurement of the amount of a crop grown per unit area of land. 

When harvests fall short, the impacts can be significant. For farmers, it means smaller profits. On a larger scale, consumers may see higher prices at the grocery store. 

News-Press NOW will update this story.