News

Variability making corn harvest difficult

Ear size and stalk strength can be two big variables for farmers harvesting corn.

Iowa State University Extension ag engineer Tony Mensing says some parts of a field might boast high-yielding, thick stalk corn.

“And then some (parts) more prone to drying up a little faster, as we got some dry conditions this growing season we may have some spindly little stalks that aren’t standing well. Short corn in those areas, small ears, and it’s hard to make those adjustments fit that wide variability in the corn field.”

He tells Brownfield it can make harvesting more difficult.

“Great big, high-yielding ears in one area (and) being able to capture those and thresh those, separate (and) clean efficiently is a challenge when right next door to that we might have those small ears that we’re losing some of as we have some header loss.”

Mensing is based in southwest Iowa.