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Ohio State University Extension

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C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2014-31

  1. Fall Weather Forecast

    Author(s):

    Overall, a fairly quiet weather pattern will impact Ohio to end September with the only real threat for rain this coming weekend. Temperatures will be below normal for the rest of September with a burst of warmer weather this weekend.

    Risk for the rest of September

    Temperature - below normal

    Rainfall - below normal generally <0.75 inches - normal is about an inch

    Runoff - low threat

    Frost - low to moderate threat for patchy frost north and northeast Ohio late this week and again middle of next week

    Freeze - low threat

    October outlook is fairly close to normal temperatures, rainfall and frost and freeze timing.

    You can see the latest National Weather Service Ohio River Forecast Center 16-day rainfall graphic at:

    http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ohrfc/HAS/images/NAEFS16day.pdf

  2. Farm Science Review 2014, last minute reminders

    There’s an app for that :https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fsr-2014/id914366913?mt=8. Depending on your smart phone’s operating system choose from the Droid store or iTunes the app for “FSR 2014”. You can use the app for navigating around the show, to get times for events, exhibitor listings, food vendors and a “My Schedule” event planner.

     Visit the Agronomic Crops Team. We will again be the welcoming crew as you enter the grounds from the public parking lot on the east side of the exhibit area. We can talk about weeds, insects & disease, continue on with a discussion about corn and soybean production practices and more. This year we have also put in place a longterm demonstration on soil quality along with several cover crops to discuss.

    CCAs can also get the approved FSR CCA College CEU schedule from the AgCrops calendar or by the link here: https://agcrops.osu.edu/links/2014-farm-science-review-certified-crop-adviser-ceus. Watch for the FSR CCA College signs, too.

     The 52nd annual Farm Science Review occurs from September 16-18th at the Molly Caren Ag. Center, London, Ohio at the corner of US 40 and State Route 38. The show attracts more than 130,000 visitors from all over the USA and Canada, who come for three days to peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors, and learn the latest in agricultural research, field demonstrations, conservation practices, family and nutrition programs, gardening and landscape techniques. Farm Science Review is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

  3. Corn drydown: What to expect?

    Author(s): Peter Thomison

    Corn growers may encounter slower than normal dry down this fall due to relatively cool weather conditions and late crop development. Corn will normally dry approximately 3/4 to 1% per day during favorable drying weather (sunny and breezy) during the early warmer part of the harvest season from mid‑September through late September. By early to mid‑October, dry-down rates will usually drop to ½ to 3/4% per day. By late October to early November, field dry‑down rates will usually drop to 1/4 to 1/2% per day and by mid November, probably 0 to 1/4% per day. By late November, drying rates will be negligible.

    Estimating dry‑down rates can also be considered in terms of Growing Degree Days (GDDs). Generally, it takes about 30 GDDs to lower grain moisture each point from 30% down to 25%. Drying from 25 to 20 percent requires about 45 GDDs per point of moisture. In October, we accumulate about 5 to 10 GDDs per day. However, note that the above estimates are based on generalizations, and it is likely that some hybrids may vary from this pattern of drydown. Some seed companies indicate considerably lower GDDs for grain moisture loss, i.e. 15 to 20 GDDs to lower grain moisture each point from 30% down to 25% and 20 to 30 GDDs per point from 25% to 20%.

    Past Ohio research evaluating corn drydown provides insight on effects of weather conditions on grain drying. During a warm, dry fall, grain moisture loss per day ranged from 0.76 to 0.92%. During a cool, wet fall, grain moisture loss per day ranged from 0.32 to 0.35%. Grain moisture losses based on GDDs ranged from 24 to 29 GDDs per percentage point of moisture (i.e., a loss of one percentage point of grain moisture per 24 to 29 GDDs) under warm dry fall conditions, whereas under cool wet fall conditions, moisture loss ranged from 20 to 22 GDDs. The number of GDDs associated with grain moisture loss was lower under cool, wet conditions than under warm, dry conditions.

    Agronomists generally recommend that harvesting corn for dry grain storage should begin at about 24 to 25% grain moisture. Allowing corn to field dry below 20% risks yield losses from stalk lodging, ear drop, ear rots, insect feeding damage and wildlife damage.

    For more on grain drydown, check out the following article by Dr. Bob Nielsen at Purdue

    Nielsen, R.L. 2013. Field Drydown of Mature Corn Grain. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. 
    URL: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/GrainDrying.html [URL accessed Sept 15, 2014].

Crop Observation and Recommendation Network

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.

Contributors

Amanda Douridas, CCA (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Ed Lentz, CCA (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Eric Richer, CCA (Field Specialist, Farm Management)
Glen Arnold, CCA (Field Specialist, Manure Nutrient Management )
Les Ober, CCA (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Mark Badertscher (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Mike Gastier, CCA (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Pierce Paul (State Specialist, Corn and Wheat Diseases)
Sam Custer (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Sarah Noggle (Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources)

Disclaimer

The information presented here, along with any trade names used, is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is made by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.