Willow City, North Dakota – As fall harvest winds down across Bottineau County, local farmer Jason Guss reports that the season is nearly finished on his family farm. After a dry summer that raised concerns, the crops performed better than expected, allowing Guss to look ahead to winter preparations and next year’s planting.

Harvest nearing completion

Guss, who grew canola, spring wheat, barley, soybeans and corn this year, said the corn harvest is “a few days away” from completion. “We’re getting to a point where we’re exhausted, but it’s time to push through and we’re only a few days away from finishing everything,” he told KMOT.

The farmer noted that spring wheat produced some of the strongest yields on his farm, while soybeans also performed well. Later‑season crops like corn were less consistent, but recent warm days have helped speed the final pull.

Weather’s role

Dry conditions during the summer raised worries about moisture, yet Guss described the results as “surprisingly impressive based off the lack of moisture we’ve seen.” He added that overall it has been “a pretty good year,” even if certain crops fared better than others.

Ground conditions remain a challenge. Guss explained that getting large semi‑trailers in and out of fields without damaging roads is a constant concern, especially as the soil stays damp from recent rains.

Looking ahead

With winter approaching, Guss and his team are applying fall fertilizer to selected fields and planning next year’s planting schedule. He sees the warm spell that allowed a light sweatshirt or even a t‑shirt while working the corn as “a blessing” in an otherwise demanding season.

Despite the hard work, the farmer remains optimistic about the upcoming growing season, confident that the lessons learned this year will help his operation continue to thrive.

Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.