The cooler summer has resulted in a corn crop that has been slow to mature and dry down, causing many to wait out the weather. There are trade-offs between letting a field naturally dry in the field before harvest and harvesting wetter corn and artificially drying it for storage. Corn will normally dry approximately one-quarter to one-half of 1 percent per day from late October to early November. However, by mid-to-late November, dry-down rates usually drop to less than one-quarter of one percent and after Thanksgiving drying rates are usually negligible.

However, this harvest season we've had cooler temperatures and frequent periods of rain. Interfering with fall sports as well as fall harvest. Agronomists recommend that corn harvest for grain should begin about 23 to 25 percent grain moisture. This year, many farmers are finding their corn to be 28 to 30 percent range. Waiting for corn to naturally dry below 20 percent increases the risks of yield losses from stalk lodging and ear rot which causes potential mycotoxin problems, and insect feeding damage.

The loss of one "normal" sized ear per 100 feet of row is equal to more than one bushel of corn per acre. In fact, an average harvest loss of two kernels per square foot is about one bushel per acre. Keep in mind that most harvest losses occur at the gathering unit. Average gathering unit losses account for a 1.2 bushels per acre out of the total 1.5 bushels per acre machine loss.

The results indicate that approximately 80 percent of the total machine loss is caused by corn never getting into the combine. Waiting for a natural drying to occur should be balanced with increased field loss and the possibility of wet weather that can restrict field traffic. Farmers also need to consider the effects of harvest delays on next year's crops if fall tillage is not completed.

Corn must be dried down to at least 15 percent moisture before it can be safely stored. Farmers will use an enormous amount of energy to dry wet corn and will need to balance crop loss from natural field drying with the cost of drying wetter corn.

The bottom line is that even at higher moisture in the corn, most farmers will benefit by harvesting as quickly as possible due to excessive losses that could occur in the field.

Please keep in mind farmers have planted, watched and nurtured this grain crop throughout the spring and summer growing season and depend upon this harvest for their livelihood. Most are patiently waiting for appropriate weather and field conditions to continue harvesting and when a harvest window is provided work relentlessly to harvest their crop, or they are going to “make hay” when the sun shines.