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Balancing act: corn yield vs moisture a key decision for growers

An agronomy manager says farmers harvesting corn should seek a balance between yield and moisture.

Ryan Bates with Pioneer tells Brownfield environment and hybrid determine how rapidly crops dry down.

“We know if we get the (right) environment we push maturity (and) can get additional yield, but at what cost to that moisture? And we know as we get wetter corn, the cost to dry that corn increases significantly.”

He says various studies help break down the per bushel cost of grain drying.

“It is a significant cost, especially as we climb up that moisture ladder. Now the exchange of that is that yield gain, can we pick up 5, 6 bushels and pick up a point of moisture we can justify that additional yield with that drying cost for that point of moisture.”

Bates says energy isn’t the only expense with grain drying and he encourages farmers to also consider the cost of equipment wear, handling, and shrink.