Growing Degree Days
 Growing
Degree Days (GDD) are a method used to calculate the number of
heat units that have accumulated over the growing season. This
measurement can be used to help you select corn hybrids best suited
for your farm or to predict when the corn crop will reach maturity.
Growing Degree Days can also be used to predict when alfalfa weevil
or corn borers will reach the stage of maturity where they can
most effectively be controlled.
Corn hybrids that are
rated 80-85 relative maturity require 1900-2000 GDDs from planting
to physiological maturity while 85-90RM hybrids need 2000-2100
GDDs.
The following chart
contains Growing Degree Day information calculated by the Polk
County UW-Extension Office based upon official temperatures reported
in Amery over the last several years.
| Month |
2005 |
2006 |
2007* |
2008
|
5-Year
Average
(03-07) |
April |
174 |
|
|
|
143 |
|
May |
223 |
|
|
|
284 |
June |
615 |
|
580 |
|
512 |
July |
671 |
|
648 |
|
614 |
August |
587 |
|
|
|
509 |
September |
452 |
|
398 |
|
371 |
| Totals
(May - Sept.) |
2722 |
|
2722 |
|
2433 |
* Information for year taken from Luck area
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