Farmers are unfortunately more than familiar with the scenario �” decent grain prices tumble to basically nothing as indications of a good harvest become well known.

Such is the case again this year, as area producers are suffering additional serious financial hits with protein discounts due to grain that sat in fields for an extended amount of time because of cool, wet growing and harvest conditions.

The end result is unprecedented piles of gold dotting the landscape in northwestern North Dakota and across the state, as producers are holding on to what many believe is ultimately a record harvest. The hope is grain prices are going to rebound so producers may at least recoup their always-rising input costs.

The bright spot this growing season is the region’s pea crop, which also saw bumper yields on many acres and is getting a decent market price. How this season’s harvest finally pens out financially won’t likely be known for several months until more of the crop actually goes to market.

Meanwhile, producers already are beginning to consider their options for next year. As usual, market prices and input costs are going to be key considerations when reviewing these options. Necessary crop and field rotations also are factored into the overall plan. There are legitimate concerns that this year’s growing season may prompt some producers to shift away from wheat to avoid the stiff protein discounts that are taking tens of thousands of dollars away from individual producers. An Associated Press story last week stated for a farmer with yields of 40 bushels per acre, the $1.50 discount on 13 percent protein spring wheat creates about a $60,000 shortfall on a 1,000-acre operation.

Switching to crops like soybeans or corn to avoid protein discounts are possibilities, but state producers are struggling to get those crops harvested this year. The AP reports the state’s corn harvested for grain is just 1 percent complete, with the overall corn crop rated 41 percent mature, compared to the average of 89 percent.

The soybean harvest is just 21 percent complete, with many areas in the eastern half of the state seeing snow-covered fields.

Overall, the 2009 growing season is one that many producers can summarize with, “What’s new about that?”