Harvest around the corner....are you ready?

Harvest is almost here. I found my first bit of black layered corn today. It was 97 day corn south of Dickens. The husks were open and it will be ready in about 2 weeks if it stays nice. Have you been watching your corn begin to change color? I have been out in a lot of corn. I am looking for fields that should be harvested first and fields that should be able to stand awhile. In one instance I found a later variety that will need to go first at a higher moisture because we found some stalks that we were able to squeeze very easily. A strong wind could jepordize the harvested yield for a otherwise great looking corn hybrid. My advice is take a little time and look at your fields. Know where the various hybrids are in each field and know if you need to harvest first or even ahead of the beans to get it into the bin at its maximum potential. You paid for the inputs and have hopefully marketed at the good commodity prices we ware seeing. You deserve to get it into the bin too. Remember that we lose about a .5 - .8 point of moisture per day under average drying conditions. If the husks are open and the ears get the air they can crash even faster. Tighter husks will possibly slow down dry down. It will still pay to take out 17-19% corn this year if the stalks are lodging or blowing over.

Beans will be coming along on a couple weeks as well. Do you know what your fertility plans are for the next crop? Do you know if you plan on rotating or doing continuous corn? If your field needs soil samples let your agroinomist know now. A little planning now helps ensure tasks are completed in a timely fashion this fall. Remember that if your yields are improving to fertilize for that. The old 23-60-60 or 31-80-80 is no longer the standard two year fetilizer blend if you are trying for 180+ bu. corn and 60+ bu. beans. If you attended our answer plots this summer you saw how fertilizer applied for each year was showing better results from a plant health, harvest timing, and yield points of view.

These componets all come together as R7. The right genetics for the right soil type at the right plant population in the right cropping system with the right traits fed the right plant nutrition defended with the right crop protection. See one of Green Plains Agronomist today to see how we can fit into your farm operation and assist you in making the right choices for success.