Have corn or forage to sell or buy?

        A web site has been developed where Wisconsin farmers can list corn (dry or high moisture), corn silage, or hay that they have to sell or would like to buy.  The listings can be searched by county.  If you have internet access, listings can easily be made from your home computer.  There is no charge for this service.  The URL for the web site is: http://farmertofarmer.uwex.edu/ 

Check those harvest losses

        With high corn and soybean prices, you won’t want to leave the equivalent of dollar bills in the field when you pull out of the field with the combine.  An estimation of field losses can be done by determining the average number of kernels or seeds lying on the ground after the combine has passed and converting this loss to bushels per acre.  For corn, an average of 2 kernels per square foot constitutes a one-bushel per acre harvesting loss.  For soybeans, 4 to 5 seeds per square foot convert to a one-bushel per acre loss. 

        UW-Extension Soybean Specialist Shawn Conley reminds growers that there may be extreme variation in soybean seed size this year.  This stems from the dry weather conditions of mid-summer impacting seed size on early maturity soybean varieties more than that of late season varieties.  Early soybeans may have smaller than normal seed size. 

        The best approach to measure harvest loss is to flag an area that is equal to the width of the harvest head and about 2 to 3 feet long.  Count the number of kernels within the frame and divide by the number of square feet measured to determine average kernel loss per square foot.  Typical harvest losses should be no more than 2 to 3 bushels per acre for corn and 1 to 2 bushels per acre for soybean.  Don't try to obtain zero loss because this will often result in an excess of broken kernels or split seeds. 

New SNAP-Plus program available

        An updated version of the SNAP-Plus nutrient management software was released on Sept. 21.  It can downloaded for free at:  http://www.snapplus.net/ 

        Some highlights of the changes made in this version include:

1)       N, P, and K recommendations are based on the 2006 edition of bulletin A2809.

2)       MRTN for corn has been added as an option for N recommendations for corn. This can be used for all, some, or none of the fields on a farm.

3)       When N application rates exceed allowances in the 590, a message will appear telling you that too much N will be applied.

4)       RUSLE2 now runs as a rotation as opposed to individual years, meaning it's more accurate.

5)       There is now a grazing manure application calculator.

Think shrink

        Shrink is the weight loss that occurs to corn during a mechanical drying process.  The shrink factor is usually cited as the percentage weight loss for each point of moisture removed.  When considering water weight loss only, the shrink factor is constant for any given final moisture [determined by dividing 100 by (100 minus the percent final moisture)].  For example, the shrink factor for a final moisture of 15 percent is 1.176.  Total water loss for corn dried from 25 percent down to 15 percent would then be 11.76 percent (10 points removed x 1.176).  The other factor that goes into determining a total shrink is handling loss.  There will typically always be some weight loss to corn after it is dried that is not fully accounted for by water loss alone.  Actual handling loss will vary from one operation to another but should be less than 1 percent of the total weight loss.  Typically, handling loss increases as initial grain moisture increases.

      Quoted shrink factors from grain buyers differ for several reasons.  First, they may use a different final moisture to determine water shrink.  Second, and probably the biggest factor, is that they use different values for handling loss when determining their final shrink factor(s). 

Too late to spray glyphosate?

        There is no exact temperature below which it is best not to apply glyphosate (Roundup and related products) until next spring.  However, once temperatures have been 25 degrees or less, it is unwise to treat.  When the lows have been between 25 and 32 degrees, the best advice is to examine plants one to two days after the freeze for visible signs of injury.  If only slight leaf injury has occurred and warmer weather (at least into the upper 50's) returns, glyphosate should still be effective.  If more severe injury is noted, delay applications until next spring. 

How long can wet corn be held in a bin?

Be your own ear doctor

Corn ears that is.......Corn ears may not completely fill for a number of reasons.  The first point of investigation is to determine if the ovule (kernel) was ever pollinated or if it aborted sometime after pollination. In the former situation, remember that ovules near the tip of the ear are the last to be pollinated.  If most of the pollen is shed before silk emergence, this increases the risk that not enough pollen will find its way to the late emerging silks.  As a result, tip fill is incomplete.  Sometimes severe drought stress may result in the slow growth of silks that prevents them from emerging in time to receive pollen.  Pollen feeding and silk clipping by corn rootworm beetles also contributes to pollination problems resulting in poorly filled ear tips.  Late planted fields are especially subject to this type of damage. 

        Incomplete ear fill may also be caused by kernel abortion.  In this case, the ovules are fertilized by pollen but the plant decides to reduce its need for nutrients by aborting kernels.  Typically, those on the end of the ear are the first to get thrown overboard.  Stress conditions such as heat and drought, nitrogen deficiency, hail, and foliar diseases may cause a shortage of nutrients and lead to kernel abortion.  Periods of cloudy weather following pollination, or the mutual shading from very high plant populations can also contribute to kernel abortion.  This is sometimes referred to as “tip dieback.”  Typically aborted kernels are shrunken, dry, and have a slightly yellowish color, whereas unfertilized ovules are often white. 

Are barren ear tips always a bad thing?

        Not always.  In fact, a valid argument can be made that there should almost always be some barren tip.  This is a good indication that maximum yield potential has been reached and is especially true during a good to great growing season.  If corn ears are completely filled to the tip, it might be an indication that plant populations were not high enough to achieve maximum yield potential.  Remember, yield is ultimately measured by kernels per acre rather than kernels per ear.