More than a month ahead of schedule, Nebraska farmers are wrapping up this year's corn harvest.
The harvest has hit the home stretch, and despite the drought, irrigation has paid off.
According to the most recent USDA Crop Progress Report issued this week, corn harvest is 80 percent complete in the state.
It's a littler further along in the eastern part of the state, and progressing a little slower to the west.
A mechanical breakdown delayed the Schusters or they'd be done by now.
Bill and his son Scott farm near Phillips, and also custom farm land north of Aurora, near Marquette.
Aside from last weekend's rain, they've made quick work of it.
Schuster said, "Harvest has been going good. Weather's been very nice. It's been dry, got .40" last Friday evening. We were out half a day then were back Saturday afternoon and harvest has been going very well. Been a good year."
Yields are virtually nothing in areas that weren't irrigated. But where they pumped water, they produced a good crop.
Schuster said, "It still takes rain to make the grain, as they say, and you either get it from mother nature or get it from irrigation. We're fortunate to have as much water as we do."
The yield monitor here was showing nearly 300 bushels an acre, which is an outstanding crop.
But Bill Schuster says you have to consider farmers are harvesting fewer acres than they planted, so overall numbers will be down.
According to the USDA five-year average, harvest has been getting done around Thanksgiving.
At this rate, most everything should be picked by Halloween.
