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Wet conditions create harvest challenges, risks

An agronomist says there are several crop health concerns farmers should keep in mind this fall.

Teal Mills with Hogemeyer Hybrids says excessive rainfall in parts of the Corn Belt has been extremely problematic. “I think anxiety, in general, for farmers is going to go up as we try to get stuff out. Hopefully, let’s not try and mud out corn. We don’t want to be degrading the soil health, microbes and structure, but at the same time, we can’t dilly dally when it comes to harvest.”

She tells Brownfield farmers can do a push test in corn by pushing a stalk towards another row and if it breaks or bends easily that can indicate standability issues. “There is stalk rot that is showing up in fields. Let’s make sure we’re out scouting and prioritizing fields that are higher risk and getting those out first.”

As for soybeans, Mills tells Brownfield, “Make sure you’re out evaluating for seed moisture but not plant moisture. We can have areas where stalks stay green, but the seeds are dry. Make sure you’re actually evaluating the seed moisture. Don’t let shattering happening there. The wet-dry cycles are what encourage soybean pods to shatter.”

She says there could about a 10-14 day window starting next week where harvest conditions will improve.

Teal Mills: