Agronomic answers, actionable results. Download the 2024 Product Agronomy Research (PAR) Report HERE

Back to Articles

Product and Agronomy Research (PAR) Results: First in a Series of Three

BY Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team

For the next three weeks, our agronomy newsletters will highlight one of the trials conducted through our Product and Agronomy Research (PAR) trials. This week we are sharing the details of the Date of Harvest study in Wabash, IN.

WABASH, IN, CORN HARVEST DATE/ PHANTOM YIELD LOSS
DESCRIPTION:

University and other studies have shown that optimum harvest moisture is 25%, because of this information there has been a lot of interest in looking at harvest moisture and timing, and the impact on yield. Harvesting at a higher moisture has shown to reduce mechanical damage and loss. The grain yield lost between an earlier harvest and allowing the corn to field dry is often referred to as phantom yield loss. The hybrids used range from 103 day to 112 day in maturity (DS-4310Q™, DS-4510Q™, DS-4878Q™, DS-4917AM™, DS-5250AM™, DS-5279Q™). This trial was plated on May 21 at a population of 33.600 seeds per acre.

TREATMENTS:  

A sample of each hybrid was harvested on the following dates:

  1. October 2, 2021
  2. October 10, 2021
  3. October 14, 2021

CONCLUSION:
  • This year did show that the early harvest or treatments 1 and 2, did significantly help to retain yield as compared to treatment 3.
  • The Harvest moistures of treatments 2 and 3 did have statistical differences from treatment 1 as shown in Table 1 and displayed in the Treatment x Mean of Moisture graph.
  • Test weights of all 3 treatments were statistically different as shown in Table 1 and displayed in the Treatment x Mean of Moisture graph.

The range in maturities of the hybrids used in this study allows us to look at the impact of early harvest on a large scale. Early harvest (treatment 1) did show an 8.8 bushel increase over the later harvest (treatment 3). The retention in dry matter from earlier harvest this year may have been caused by the rapid drydown during the period following the first harvest. A later 3rd harvest date was planned but the onset of stalk lodging issues experienced across the area forced an earlier than scheduled 3rd treatment. Test weight decreases between the 2nd and 3rd harvest as well, this is likely due to the late season infection tar spot in the corn.


Brian Weller Dan Ritter Branden Furseth Mark Gibson Amanda Goffnett
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
Enjoying our Agronomy Updates? Suggestions for topics you'd like us to weigh in on? Drop us an email at dairylandseed@dairylandseed.com. We'd love to hear from you!
Subscribe for more insights delivered straight to your inbox.
You may also like...
  • February 28, 2025 Agronomy Cafe Webinar: Midwest Insect Update - The Only Thing Constant is Change
    Did you miss the February 28Dairyland Seed Agronomy Café webinar? The recording is now available! Tune in as guest speaker Dr. Rayda Krell, Corteva Technical Knowledge Solutions Scientist, discusses insects which are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet, so there is always something new to learn about them.
    Read more
  • February 14, 2025 Agronomy Cafe Webinar: A Fresh Look at Corn and Soybean Diseases in the Midwest
    Did you miss the January 24 Dairyland Seed Agronomy Café webinar? The recording is now available!
    Read more
  • January 24, 2025 Agronomy Cafe Webinar: Climate Update and the Effects on Agriculture
    Did you miss the January 24 Dairyland Seed Agronomy Café webinar? The recording is now available!
    Read more
Find Your Rep