Walking Your Fields

Gary Brinkman & Tex Young, Area Agronomists October 2, 2009 – Issue #7

CORN GDU’s BELOW LONG-TERM AVERAGE

Growing Degree Unit accumulation is shown below from May 1 through September 24, 2009. We fell behind in GDU accumulation in June with one of the coldest on re-cord. However, the month of September has been benefi-cial with some excellent sunshine and warm days and nights. Plus, it appears we will reach October 1 without a killing frost, but we will still need much of October without a killing frost before many corn and soybean fields reach maturity.

Growing Degree Unit (GDU) Update (5/1/09 – 9/24/09)

Growing Degree Units – As of: Thursday, September 24, 2009

Location 2009 Normal

Akron 2071 2302 Allegan 2352 2497 Alma 2156 2288 Alpena 1863 1989 Bad Axe 2033 2302 Coldwater 2397 2448 Dundee 2480 2459 Eaton Rapids 2266 2448 Fremont 2124 2227 Hell 2273 2459 Ionia 2130 2448 Lake City 1857 2051 Lapeer 2183 2459 Niles 2395 2497 Saginaw 2230 2302 Sandusky 1989 2302 Sparta 2096 2497 Standish 1983 2302 Visit www.pioneer.com/Growingpoint.com for more GDU information

Corn that gets fully dented but that does not get all the way to physiological maturity can produce excellent yields. Corn that is at one-half milk line will produce 90-95 percent full grain yield (See following table).

YIELD NEEDED TO OFFSET DRYING COSTS

A number of factors determine the profitability of corn production. At harvest we are looking at primarily two factors – yield and moisture. There is often a trade off between these two factors. Longer maturity hybrids of-ten yield higher but are higher moisture at harvest. Har-vest moisture is approximately one-half point higher per day with increase in relative maturity. For example, a 102 CRM hybrid will be about 2.0 points higher moisture at harvest than a 98 CRM hybrid. A good question is, ‘How much higher yield do you need to offset higher drying costs?’

It takes about 0.02 gallons of propane to remove one point of moisture per bushel of corn. You can use this formula to calculate the drying cost per acre:

Bu/A x points of moisture to remove x 0.02 x Cost ($/Gal.) = $ Propane /A

The table shows the bushels per acre required to offset energy costs at different yield and moisture levels at a propane cost of $2.00/gal. and a corn price of $4.00/Bu.

Bushels Per Acre Required to Pay Drying Costs Points of Moisture Difference 1 2 3 4

Yield (Bu/A) Bu/A to Pay Energy Cost* 100 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 125 1.25 2.5 3.75 5.0 150 1.5 3.0 4.5 6.0 175 1.75 3.5 5.25 7.0 200 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 225 2.25 4.5 6.75 9.0

*Assuming Propane Cost = $2.00/Gal. and Corn Price = $4.00/Bu

Corn Yield & Moisture Relative to Physiological Maturity

Stage Approx. Days to Maturity

% of Max

Grain Yield

% of Max Yield

Whole Plant

Moisture

Content (%)

Grain Whole Plant

Silk 50-60 0 50-55 -

80-85

Blister 40-50 0-10 55-60 85-95 80-85

Late Milk 30-40 30-50 65-75 60-80 75-80 Early Dent 25 60-75 75-85 50-55 70-75

½ milk-line 10-15 90-95 100 35-40 65-70

Phys Mat 0 100 95-100 25-35 55-65

Walking Your Fields ®

For example, at a yield level of 150 bu/A it takes three bu/A to offset the energy costs to dry a hybrid that is two points higher moisture at harvest. Of course, energy cost is not the only factor to consider. There are also equipment and handling costs associated with drying. The following table shows the gallons of propane re-quired per bushel to dry corn at different moisture con-tents.

Approximate Gallons of Propane Required to Dry Corn from Various Moisture Contents

% Moisture Before Drying 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Final % Moist. Gallons of Propane per Bushel

14 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.2 0.24 0.28 0.32 15 0.06 0.1 0.14 0.18 0.22 0.26 0.3

15.5 0.05 0.09 0.13 0.17 0.21 0.25 0.29 16 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.2 0.24 0.28 17 0.02 0.06 0.1 0.14 0.18 0.22 0.26 18 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.2 0.24 19 0.02 0.06 0.1 0.14 0.18 0.22 20 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.2

ACTIVELY MANAGE HARVEST

TO LIMIT LOSSES

PREPARE YOUR YIELD MONITOR

With harvest just around the corner, don’t forget about your yield monitor/mapping system. Preparing your yield monitor/mapping system is just as important as prepar-ing your combine for harvest. Preparing now will allow you to gather quality yield information which can be used to help make next year’s management decisions. The following is a pre-harvest checklist to help with the proc-ess.

Pre-Harvest Yield Mapping Checklist

Back up old data and clear off your data card(s).

Check to see that your monitor has the latest firm-ware version and all connected modules are up-to-date. Firmware and manual updates can be found on most major manufacturers websites.

Change/create farm and field names needed for this 2009 harvest season.

Enter all the Pioneer® brand hybrids and varieties that will be harvested per field.

Check your cabling for any wear spots.

Check your yield monitor components for exces-sive wear, and clean any debris/dirt from the mois-ture sensor.

Make sure your clean elevator chain is tight and there are no missing paddles.

Set grain type for each field.

Review complete calibration instructions.

Make sure the yield monitor and GPS receiver are working properly. (After opening the first field, download the yield data to double check your yield mapping system.)

*Always refer to your owner’s manual for detailed instructions

**Contact your local Pioneer sales representative to set a date to come over to help calibrate your yield monitor with his weigh wagon or for any other assistance.

Soybean Yield Loss When Harvested Below 13% Moisture

Harvest Moisture Level of Soybeans 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13%

Yield Bu./Acre Yield Loss Yield Loss

60 Bu./A 4.1 3.4 2.7 2.0 1.3 0.7 0

0.7 bu./A per

point

50 Bu./A 3.4 2.8 2.2 1.6 1.1 0.6 0

0.6 bu./A per

point

40 Bu./A 2.7 2.3 1.8 1.2 0.8 0.5 0

0.5 bu./A per

point

30 Bu./A 2.1 1.7 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.4 0

0.3 bu./A per

point

MEASURING CORN HARVEST LOSSES: 2 kernels per square foot equals 1 lost

bushel per acre. Two 1/2-pound ears or equivalent per 1/100th

acre approximates the loss of 1 bushel per acre.

Row Length (in feet) Needed to Equal 1/100th Acre based on row widths and # of rows harvested.

Number of Rows Harvested Row width Three

rows Four rows

Six rows

Eight rows

Twelve rows

20 inches 87.3 65.5 43.6 32.7 21.8 30 inches 58.0 43.6 29.0 21.8 14.5 36 inches 48.3 36.2 24.2 18.1 12.1

MEASURING SOYBEAN HARVEST LOSSES: Four soybeans per square foot equals

one lost bushel per acre.

Photo courtesy of Pioneer Hi-Bred


LATE SEASON STANDABILITY

As harvest nears, it is time to start monitoring fields for stalk rots which leads to stalk lodging. Fields that pre-maturely die or have been under extreme stress are prime candidates for stalk rot infections. Some fields are exhibiting early signs of top die back from anthracnose by showing a yellow cast at the top of the plant as shown in the picture below.

Although plant pathogens are virtually always present, healthy corn plants can resist infection and spread of the stalk and root rotting organisms for much of the growing season. Eventually, however, accumulated stresses and the onset of natural senescence weaken the plant and allows for invasion and spread of the pathogens. One of the major stresses on the corn plant is internal – the competition within the plant for limited carbohydrate (plant sugars) supplies. During this period of high de-mand, the ability of the plant to produce new carbohy-drates through photosynthesis is essential. Any stress that reduces that ability will result in the translocation of carbohydrates from root and stalk tissues to the ear. Leaf loss, particularly below the ear, reduce sugar pro-duction in the lower stalk, and thus, increase “cannibali-zation” of the stalk, as the plant tries to fill the ear. This weakens those tissues, and allows root and stalk rot pathogens to invade and proliferate. Scouting. Careful scouting and harvesting fields accord-ing to crop conditions can help prevent field losses due to stalk and root rot. Corn loss potential should be weighed just as heavily as grain moisture in deciding which fields to harvest first. Scouting fields approxi-mately two to three weeks prior to the expected harvest date can identify fields with weak stalks predisposed to lodging. Fields with high lodging potential should be slated for early harvest.

Weak stalks can be detected by pinching the stalk at the first or second elongated internode above the ground. If the stalk collapses, this indicates advanced stages of stalk rot. Another technique is to push the plant side-ways about 8-12 inches at ear level. If the stalk crimps near the base or fails to return to the vertical position, stalk rot is indicated. Check 20 plants in several areas of the field. If more than 10-15 percent of the stalks are rotted, that field should be scheduled for early harvest. “Hybrid Side-by-Side” COMPARISONS

As we look ahead to harvest, hybrid com-parisons will again play a large role in purchasing decisions for 2010. When looking at your 2009 yield data this fall, keep in mind that multiple location performance data - and from a period of years if available - is the most accurate predictor of the set of hybrids that will provide the best performance in the varying environments at a growing location. Compare hybrids/varieties in the same field while minimizing variables: As you plan your on-farm com-parisons, there are several factors listed below to con-sider ensuring you collect the best data possible.

o Planting date o Fertility o Technology segments (CRW Vs CRW,

Cyst vs. Cyst, etc) o Seed treatments o Weed and pest control o Tillage o Previous crop (last 2-3 years) o Maturity range (+/- 5 RM) o Combine and weighing device

Select a uniform location to minimize soil variation o Identify location by soil type map o Limit or block test width & length to uni-

form soil types (walk plots prior to har-vest)

o Test strips should be at least four rows wide and at least 500 feet long

o No test/location should have more than 8 strips to reduce site variability

Please be safe during the upcoming busy harvest season. With all the long hours and heavy traffic out on country roads, it’s a very busy and danger-ous environment.

o Take plenty of breaks during the day o NEVER service or unplug a running harvester. o Be very careful working around storage grain

bins.



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This Walking Your Fields® Newsletter is brought to you courtesy of your Pioneer Sales Representative and Pioneer Account Manager.

For the latest breaking agronomy news go to: http://www.pioneer.com/growingpoint/login/login.jsp

Kevin Hoffman

Account Manager Marshall, MI

[email protected] Cell: (269) 506-8739

Dan Schulz

Account Manager DeWitt, MI


Karen Zuver

Account Manager Woodland, MI


Jeff Leipprandt Account Manager

Pigeon, MI [email protected]

Cell: (989) 550-0235

Bob Weisenberger Account Manager

Pinckney, MI [email protected]

Cell: (313) 550-2402

Gary Brinkman Area Agronomist

Lansing, MI [email protected]

Cell: (517) 930-9756

Jack Lemmermen Account Manager

Portage, MI [email protected]

Cell: (269) 370-8170

Eric Witt Account Manager

Vestaburg, MI [email protected]

Cell: (989) 330-1966

Tex Young Area Agronomist

DeWitt, MI [email protected]

Cell: (517) 927-0691 WALKING YOUR FIELDS® newsletter is written by agronomists for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., A DuPont Business. It is mailed to customers several times throughout the growing season, courtesy of your Pioneer sales professional. PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase, which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. Pioneer is a brand name; numbers identify varieties and products. ®, SM TM Trademarks and service marks, registered or applied for, of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A. © 2009 PHII. www.pioneer.com

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