Assessing Wind Damaged Corn; Kicking Off Silage Harvest; Introducing The Elite Producers Club
BY Agronomy Team
WIND DAMAGED CORN
Recent severe storms across the Dairyland Seed footprint have produced high winds, straight-line winds and downbursts, which have had a negative effect on corn fields. Some of the damage to these corn fields include leaning plants and root lodging (uprooting). Assessment of the damage should not be done the day after the storm. It is recommended to wait about five days to accurately assess the damage.
Leaning plants in the vegetative stage should stand back up after a few days. However, during the grain fill period, the plant’s ability to stand back up is greatly reduced. Plants that are root lodged during grain fill may see a quick deterioration of stalk strength from reduced photosynthesis and reallocation of nutrients to the ear.
Another injury you may see is stalk bending or crimping between the nodes. When stalk bending occurs, the plant is no longer able to transport nutrients to the ear. This will have an impact on yield and test weight, along with causing the plant to drydown slowly.
Depending on the severity and number of damaged plants, it would be best to scout fields now and prepare a harvest plan. Harvest schedules should be adjusted so the fields with more damage are harvested once they reach maturity to avoid further loss. Harvesting against the angle of lodge will help lift the corn into the header.
While out scouting, try to identify any factors that might have contributed to the lodging. Check for feeding from Corn Rootworm larvae, reduced root development from soil conditions or compaction, and check to see if the planting depth was too shallow. Also, make note of any lodging that seems to be hybrid specific. Corn hybrids vary in their susceptibility to lodging so selecting hybrids that withstand root lodging will help in the future.
If you have any questions, please contact your local DSM or Regional Agronomist.
CORN SILAGE HARVEST IS HERE
It’s the end of August which means corn silage harvest is just beginning, especially in the drier areas of our Western Region. Here are some last-minute check points to be sure you’re ready to bring in this year’s crop:
- Corn silage harvested outside the ideal range of 68%-64% whole plant moisture requires attentive management to reduce additional dry matter shrink, decreases in animal performance, and lost profit potential. Attend a local chipper/dry down day or work with your trusted crop advisor to get stalks moisture tested to know when to go. Start chopping before you think you need to so that the last few loads are still in the ideal range.
- Be prepared to adjust the cutting height within each field. The lower portion of the stalk will have lower fiber digestibility and increase the potential for soil contamination, especially under drought conditions. Dirty feed going into storage will allow molds, yeasts, and toxins to multiply. Remember, garbage in = garbage out!
- Add procedures like lining bunker walls with plastic and products like oxygen barriers and inoculants/preservatives if you’re not taking advantage of any of these options now. They are cheap insurance for avoiding possible catastrophes but also for allowing ideal forage to perform to its highest potential
- Dairyland Seed has more corn silage plots than ever this year! In an effort to capture all of that data as efficiently and effectively as possible, we need to be proactive in getting branded sample bags and coded labels in our growers’ hands. Plots entered into SeedWare as a “Silage Observation” area prepped and on their way to your DSM. Check in with them now to be sure they have yours so that we can get the necessary materials back out the door in a timely manner.
Thank you to all of our silage customers and plot cooperators for your hard work this growing season. We appreciate your time and effort to help our team gather valuable information on the Dairyland Seed portfolio of products. Just a reminder that NO data is better than BAD data. Stay safe!
ELITE PRODUCER CLUB
Join Dairyland Seed’s Elite Producer Club by submitting photos or testimonials of high performing products! Simply text a picture or testimonial of your high performing products to 913-DS-YIELD or 913-379-4353. The program runs from August 15 through December 1, 2021.
Participants will receive a free Dairyland Seed t-shirt (one per entry) and “Elite Yield Club” Certificate. All corn grain, corn silage and soybean products are eligible.
Qualifying products for “Elite Yield” Contest (one winner per family, per region, prize is 3 free units of product that was entered):
Region 1 = DS-3366 family; DS-3550 family; DS-4018 family
Region 2 = DS-3550 family; DS-4018 family; DS-4878 family; DS-5144Q
Region 3 = DS-4310 family; DS-4878 family; DS-5144Q
Region 4 = DS-3366 family; DS-3550 family; DS-4014Q; DS-4310 family
Information required in text: Participant; Location; Product; Yield in Bushels or Tons; T-Shirt Size; DSM; Mailing address if different than participant.
CORN, SOYBEAN AND SILAGE YIELDMASTER CONTEST
Don’t miss out on the annual Dairyland Seed Corn, Silage and Soybean Yieldmaster Contest. If you haven’t entered in the past, this is the year to enter your outstanding yields.
Seed Credits for Winners
- The National Corn, Soybean and Silage Yieldmasters will each receive a $2500 seed credit.
- First Place Corn, Silage and Soybean winners from each zone receive a $1000 seed credit.
- Second Place Corn, Silage and Soybean winners from each zone receive a $500 seed credit.
Entries can be submitted online at www.dairylandseed.com or via your DSM who can submit your entry using the iPad app. Silage entries are due November 3, 2021. Corn and Soybean entries are due December 3, 2021.
CORTEVA TECHNOLOGY USE AGREEMENTS
All growers with orders for any Corteva Agriscience brand seed product, regardless of crop or trait (including non-GMO products) need to have a signed Corteva Technology Use Agreement in place by September 1. Growers should sign the Corteva Technology Use Agreement electronically at www.agcelerate.com. Signing electronically is preferable, however, paper copies are available at www.traitstewardship.com or by calling Rita Frank in the Dairyland Seed West Bend office at 800-236-0163.
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| Brian Weller Western Region 507.456.3034 |
Dan Ritter Central Region 219.863.0583 |
Branden Furseth Northern Region 608.513.4265 |
Mark Gibson Eastern Region 260.330.8968 |
Amanda Goffnett Eastern Region 989.400.3793 |