Crops in Greene County have started to show signs of coming to the end of the growing season.

Landus Cooperative Field Agronomist Zach Minnihan says corn and soybeans are turning brown, which means the growing season is almost over and harvest season is right around the corner. However, with the rainfall that happened last week, Minnihan says that won’t impact corn or soybeans that are turning brown, but for any late-planted soybeans that are still green, it will help to assist them to get to full maturity. According to the National Weather Service, Jefferson saw 2.28-inches of rainfall last week.

Minnihan points out an area of possible concern for corn with as much rainfall as there was last week.

“You might start seeing a little bit of ear rot just with having so much moisture in the ear in the husk. But really it’s not going to do to terribly much to us right now.”  

With temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s the early part of this week, Minnihan explains, that could be a good thing for those crops getting ready for harvest.

“That’s going to help us and kind of assist along the way of drying down (crops), especially on the corn side (and) getting that grain to kind of dry down in the field, so we don’t have to let it sit there and sit there until it gets down to below 20-percent moisture (level).”

As for as when harvest season may begin, Minnihan says farmers will take their average start date and add about ten days.