Corn harvest—will grain be as wet as it was last fall?
Corn maturity in general was lagging across the state, anywhere from 200 to 500 heat units below normal. A relatively high moisture harvest seems inevitable, even without the hail concerns. However, the recent weather we’ve had –temperatures in the mid 70s and low 80s during the day and 60s at night – has brought the 2009 Iowa corn crop toward maturity faster than the late season conditions of 2008. This means that, even if the harvest starts out wetter, it may dry down faster because of more complete maturity. This will also increase test weights, storage stability and handling properties over the problem crop of 2008. Corn in the intense central band of the hailstorm was killed by the hail; the hail stones were large enough to cause extensive bruising. The bruised kernels will shrivel; many will be moldy but many also will pass out the back of the combine. Corn that has had its development stopped with the milk line partway down the kernel will be soft, have free sugars and be very l
