Existing and potential stalk and root lodging, disease pressure and moisture content can affect the order in which fields are harvested.  Develop a harvest schedule that can help minimize lodging and harvest loss.

Two methods to determine stalk integrity are the pinch test and the push test.  Conduct the pinch test by squeezing the second or third internodes above the ground.  If it collapses, the stalk quality is quality is compromised.

The push test is performed by pushing a corn stalk to approximately a 45-degree angle.  If it breaks, stalk quality has been reduced.  Conduct either test on 10 plants in a row, at several locations in the field. If more than 10% of the stalks tested show poor stalk quality, or lodge at the root, the field should be slated for early harvest.

North Central Iowa

Kevin Meyer reports the corn continues to dry down in his north central Iowa territory.  Primarily seed corn harvest and silage chopping are in full harvest mode.  While it’s too early to establish yield trends, spotty reports of moisture well below 30% are common. Soybeans continue to mature with an anxious eye on what effects SDS will have on yields. As combines and harvest equipment begin to move, remember safety and have a great harvest.

Below is a video of Mark Grundmeier, soybean product manager at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, providing tips on how to avoid future SDS outbreaks. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kvxo3D3SQ0[/youtube]

Northwest Iowa

Crops are maturing at a very rapid rate, and Tom Larson says there is talk of corn harvest starting next week.  Some farmers have expressed concern that the high daytime and nighttime temperature we’ve experienced recently might adversely affect corn yields and test weight.  Keep in mind that grain fill is a 60-day process, but we’ve only experienced 4 or 5 abnormally warm nights during this time.  As a result, test weight issues due to this will most likely be minimal.  Tom is seeing some ear worm feeding, mainly on the tip.  Remember:  3 damaged kernels equals 1 bushel lost.   To help reduce and even eliminate this late-season problem in the future, plant Latham® products with Genuity SmartStack, Genuity VT3 Pro and the new Viptera event.  Soybeans look great throughout Tom’s area.  The Genuity RoundUp Ready 2 Yield Soybean products are poised to be the undisputed yield leaders this year.  All of Latham’s new RR2 events in both research and field trials have really set the pods this season and the plant health on our products look great!

South Central Iowa

Travis Slusher is seeing some of the earlier maturity beans beginning to turn in south central Iowa.  Corn is progressing rapidly and he wouldn’t be surprised to see machines shelling corn before bean harvest gets started in earnest.  Stalk rot is still concerning in his area with the growing conditions he has seen this year, so if the corn is ready to come out early they should take advantage of the situation rather than fighting stalk issues later in the season.  The L3268R2 and L2735R2 Vistive varieties are still showing great plant health and outstanding pod and bean counts.

East Central Iowa

In east central Iowa, Brad Beatty says farmers are busy getting ready for harvest.  Many farmers are chopping corn for silage.  Corn is drying down fast with grain moisture testing from 26 to 32%.  Brad did a plot moisture test and LH 5228 VT3 is at 25% moisture.  These moisture levels are hard to believe for this time of year.  Soybeans are starting to turn in some fields, and some beans will be ready to harvest in about three weeks.  One grower said he will welcome an early harvest because he hasn’t been able to do any fall tillage in many years.

South Central Iowa

Some of the earlier maturity beans beginning to turn in south central Iowa.  Corn is progressing rapidly, and Travis Slusher says he won’t be surprised if some corn gets shelled before bean harvest is in full swing.  Stalk rot is still a concern with the growing conditions, so if the corn is ready to come out early, farmers can take advantage of the situation rather than fighting stalk issues later in the season.  Latham’s L3268R2 and the L2735R2V, with Roundup Ready 2 Yield and Vistive,® are showing great plant health, as well as outstanding pod and bean counts.

South Dakota

Bill Eichacker says 50% of the third cutting of alfalfa has been harvested in South Dakota and winter wheat is starting to go into the ground.  Corn is still maturing quickly with 90% of the corn at the R4 stage and over half at the R5 stage.  Both corn and soybeans are starting the R6 stage.  Silage cutters will be in full force the week of Labor Day if the ground dries out.  Early in the week parts of his region received over 4.5 inches of precipitation.  Lots of farmers are getting their harvest equipment out and a lot of new augers are going down the roads.

Central Iowa

In two to three weeks, the combines will start on beans and corn in north central Iowa.  Bart Peterson reports that a 98-day hybrid was hand-shelled August 24, just eight miles north of Fort Dodge, at 23% moisture.  Corn and beans will be a little later in West Central Iowa.  Near Odebolt, Ida Grove, and Arthur, Iowa, farmers will see one some the best bean yields they’ve had in a long time.  Bart has seen four beans in a pod on quite a few varieties of Roundup Ready 2 Yield Soybeans.

Wisconsin

Steve Bailie reports beans are starting to turn in Wisconsin. Some corn has tested 29% moisture content. Corn silage harvest has wrapped up, and if the temperature stays up, corn growers will be harvesting in two or three weeks.

A Wallaces Farmer article posted today highlighted that corn and soybeans throughout Iowa have progressed rapidly toward maturity this past week.

The weekly weather and crop conditions survey released August 30 by the Iowa office USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service shows 8% of Iowa’s corn crop has already reached maturity. Seventy-seven percent of the crop has started to dent, and 94% has entered or reached dough stage. Corn condition has improved slightly with 69% of the state’s crop now rating “good to excellent.” Click here for the full report.

Soybeans as of August 30 have begun to drop their leaves in some fields, the article stated. Pods have now been set on virtually all of the state’s soybean acres, and 14% of Iowa’s soybean acres have turned color–which is ahead of last year’s 4% and the 5-year average of 13% at the end of August.

Click here for the full article.

The data is piling in from our Superstrips and Test Plots this harvest season.  Here is a breakdown of how each performed across our marketing territory.  For more information on individual plots or head to head results, visit our website at www.lathamseeds.com.

The University of Minnesota has developed a website with multiple resources devoted to dealing with the challenges associated with this cold, wet harvest season. The site provides information on what to watch for in moldy corn; tips for staying safe around moldy crops; advice for storing, drying and handling wet soybeans; as well as post-harvest crop handling.

To visit the site, click here.

Agri-View recently posted an article that’s very important for farmers to read as this challenging harvest continues. With the weather causing a late, slow-progressing harvest, the article highlights the importance of contacting your crop insurance agent if you won’t be able to complete harvest by early December.

Purdue University economist Bill Edwards is quoted in the article, saying the crop insurance deadline for corn and soybeans in Midwest states is Dec. 10. “However, producers may request additional time to complete harvest. Insurance companies may grant an extension when timely notice is given to the agent and the delay is due to an insured cause, such as wet weather or snowfall.” For more information, please read the article.