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Dodds urges farmers to check corn stalk quality
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
MONTROSE - Sunday's strong winds all but flattened a field of corn in Montrose.
Harvesting downed corn is slow and often there is some loss in yield.
“It can be devastating to have corn on the ground,” said Lee County Extension Director Bob Dodds.
He described the factors in this case that contributed to the extreme effect of the wind: a little higher corn population, planting date at the end of May and “really tall corn with ears situated on the stalk at head level.”
“When the wind came over the bluff and the corn started falling, it just kept falling,” Dodds said. “That field had been standing perfectly. I heard there were straight line winds over 40 mph.”
To avoid wind damage, Dodds said farmers should not only consider moisture content in harvesting plans, but should take a look at stalk quality as well.
Corn fields with weak stalks can be prioritized.
He believes a shortage of nitrogen in the soil caused stalk quality problems. His check of the field for plant diseases came up negative.
Harvest has been delayed compared to last year when some farmers were finished by Oct. 24.
The high moisture content in corn has slowed corn harvest somewhat, but several grain producers are combining at a slightly higher moisture, buying propane and drying their corn.
Dodds attributes late planting dates and the relatively cool summer for the delay in corn drying. Temperatures reached into the 90s only a few times this summer.
Lee County's driest corn is at 18 percent moisture, but a majority of the corn being harvested is coming in at 19 to 20 percent and some at 20 to 21 percent moisture.
Lee County bean harvest is about two-thirds along and corn harvest is about 25 percent complete.
Much of the soybean yields are “ho hum” at 44 to 48 bushels to the acre in many cases and a few in the low 50s, Dodds said.
“The corn that has been harvested so far is better than expected,” Dodds said. “Its been about 175 bushels on up to 200 and some fields are better than that. I'm really pleased to hear that.”
Harvesting downed corn is slow and often there is some loss in yield.
“It can be devastating to have corn on the ground,” said Lee County Extension Director Bob Dodds.
He described the factors in this case that contributed to the extreme effect of the wind: a little higher corn population, planting date at the end of May and “really tall corn with ears situated on the stalk at head level.”
“When the wind came over the bluff and the corn started falling, it just kept falling,” Dodds said. “That field had been standing perfectly. I heard there were straight line winds over 40 mph.”
To avoid wind damage, Dodds said farmers should not only consider moisture content in harvesting plans, but should take a look at stalk quality as well.
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He believes a shortage of nitrogen in the soil caused stalk quality problems. His check of the field for plant diseases came up negative.
Harvest has been delayed compared to last year when some farmers were finished by Oct. 24.
The high moisture content in corn has slowed corn harvest somewhat, but several grain producers are combining at a slightly higher moisture, buying propane and drying their corn.
Dodds attributes late planting dates and the relatively cool summer for the delay in corn drying. Temperatures reached into the 90s only a few times this summer.
Lee County's driest corn is at 18 percent moisture, but a majority of the corn being harvested is coming in at 19 to 20 percent and some at 20 to 21 percent moisture.
Lee County bean harvest is about two-thirds along and corn harvest is about 25 percent complete.
Much of the soybean yields are “ho hum” at 44 to 48 bushels to the acre in many cases and a few in the low 50s, Dodds said.
“The corn that has been harvested so far is better than expected,” Dodds said. “Its been about 175 bushels on up to 200 and some fields are better than that. I'm really pleased to hear that.”
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