OMAHA (DTN) -- Eastern Nebraska in general, Sarpy County in particular, saw some beautiful harvest weather this weekend. Combines were rolling Saturday and Sunday in my neck of the woods with entire fields seeming to "disappear" between Friday evening and Monday morning.

USDA reported Monday afternoon that 21% of the nation's corn crop was harvested as of Oct. 2 (Sunday). Nineteen percent of the country's soybeans are reported in the bin. In Nebraska, 20% of the crop was harvested as compared to only 2% last week. In the Dakotas, soybeans harvested rose from 5% last week to 43% this week in North Dakota and from 2% last week to 30% this week in South Dakota.

Even with all that cutting going on, many found time to contact us regarding what they are finding in their fields.

We received this email Monday morning.

"I am a young farmer in Shelby County, Iowa. (Southwest Iowa). I read your articles everyday via e-mail. We are just getting started on harvesting too. In my area, we were hard hit by high winds and hail. Many farmers have corn down or hailed off.

"For 2011 harvest, we have harvested about 80 acres of beans. Moisture has been between 9% and 16.9% and yields are 54 to 63 Bu/Acre. Last year our entire bean crop average was 65 bu/acre. We tried corn yesterday (Oct. 2), and it is 26% to 30% moisture yet. Going to be awhile for us, and a long harvest as well."

An email from the Fargo, N.D., area (Cass County) received Sunday, Oct. 2, reports that soybean yields are very poor. The producer says he has fields as low as 5.4 bushels per acre, ranging to as high as 24.3 bpa. He says that is pretty common in a 30-mile radius of Fargo. Too much spring rain was followed by too much summer rain, the producer wrote, followed by very hot temps and no rain for August and September. Then an early frost took its toll on the beans. He is hoping corn will be better, but reports no one he knows has combined a corn field yet.

The crop is reported on nationally, but the growing and harvest conditions are purely local. It's been too wet in some areas and too dry in others. The following email comes from Thomas County, Kan.

"Just a short [note] to let you know that we are now sending step ladders down with all of our wheat seeds. IT IS DRY. I am old enough to remember '56-'57 and we are going that way fast. Wheat drilling is now in full force and as we sell seed wheat there is a lot going into the ground and we suspect it is the crop insurance more than the crop itself making that decision. We have cut some dryland corn and it is off from last year but still 85-115 bu. Between the hail and heat we have some fears in what to expect on the irrigated corn."

We received a call from a Michigan reader who thinks most of the reports we've been getting are too rosy. He hasn't started harvesting yet, but he said he wished others who are reporting would wait until they have a full field completed before they rush to report yields. This producer wonders if some are just reporting the highest yield they see on the monitor from the best spot in the field. He wonders if too positive of early yield reports are helping drive the market lower.

Our Michigan reader said he really does not have a good feel for how his crops will yield yet. Planting was delayed into early June, and that normally does not equal high yields. His area did get hot during July and August, but the region also got some timely rains, including a couple days where some areas saw 10 to 20 inches, which caused some basements to cave in. Our reader was lucky and got considerably less during that storm, which was good news for him and his basement, he said.

Via Twitter:

@kdlawton (our Crops/Technology Editor Kurt Lawton) retweeted the following on Twitter: @farmerhaley: if ever stops raining I may give a #harvest11 report, dairy farms can't get silage chopped

Texts:

"Central Illinois. Our farm done with corn now for two weeks due to standability issues. Yields 160 to 200; two-thirds completed on beans; yields 55-plus and climbing with late varieties. Early spring ponding largest yield drag for us, although very little rain and very hot. Good dirt. Very surprised and pleased."

"Southwest Indiana corn 22%. Yield 105 dry bushels. 50 bushels less than on same ground last year. Maybe by July 2012 USDA will get correct numbers on yield data. Crop just isn't out there. No beans cut here yet. Thanks for your DTN reports."

"Cheri, I am near Offerle, Kansas. USDA does not have a clue what is going on out here. We have 2,600 acres irrigated corn. 800 dryland. Will average about 110 [irrigated]; dryland 0. Lot cut for silage."

From Indiana:

"First field of beans 20 bpa, last year 40."

From Missouri:

"Beans first planted on May 8 not good. Tons of 1 and 2 bean pods. Might make 30. However test wt 60."

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It's a busy time of year for you and we know that. But, if you can find a few minutes between truckloads or while you wolf down that sandwich, we'd love it if you would let us know what you are finding in your fields.

We can be reached by email at talk@telventdtn.com or any of our individual email addresses. Mine is cheri.zagurski@telventdtn.com. You can also text me at 402-301-8732 or Bryce Anderson 402-594-4248. Voicemail messages can be left at those numbers, too, or you can call 800-369-7675. That number rings right in the newsroom. On Twitter, you can send me a message. I'm @cherizagurski. Or feel free to message any of our Tweeters. DTN also has a Facebook page, DTN/The Progressive Farmer. You can post a message on our wall. http://www.facebook.com/…

Tell us where you farm and any items of note you're finding as you start the combine. Yields, moisture levels, unusual damage. Anything. We'll gather these comments into regular updates for our readers. Check the home page of www.dtnpf.com orwww.dtnprogressivefarmer.com regularly for new information.

We hope to hear from you. Here's to a safe, speedy and prosperous harvest.

Cheri Zagurski can be contacted at cheri.zagurski@telventdtn.com

(BS/AG)

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