Anybody got corn that won't dry down?

[GoredHusker]

I've been waiting patiently for this crop to dry down.  A couple of weeks ago, I shut the water off thinking harvest would be just right around the corner.  For the past two weeks the moisture has hung in there around 35-40.  The corn just won't black layer and finish.  The kernals are the size of dimes, but they just don't seem interested in finishing.  Last year at this time, guys were going hard and heavy with high moisture corn.  This year, only the short wells and dryland have gotten dry enough to pick.  It's not like we haven't had heat as today was 95+.  Anyone else experiencing corn not wanting to finish yet? 

A few soybeans have been cut.  The short wells are producing roughly an average crop.  I talked to a neighbor with good wells who claims he's cutting the best beans he's ever cut.  My tops are ready to cut, but the bottoms need more time.  I hate cutting 9 moisture beans, but I also hate throwing green beans out the back.  I'm gonna give them a couple more days then go. 

[jec22]

Around here we slowed the water way down in June and shut it off completely in July, that seemed to help with dry down. 

[Hobbyfarmer]

I had a nice post all tyed out and the system 'ATE" IT.

The short answer is that it is STILL summer harvest season is FALL.

Just one week past labor day and you have your shorts in a wad? Take a vacation for a week ...the mountains of Colorado are nice this time of year. Ride Amtrak to Grand Junction  and rent a car go do the train at Durango and then the one at  Chama NM. Come back through Glenwood Springs, soak in the worlds largest hot springs pool, go through the cave above the town ride two of the "rides" at the top while you are up there, go soak in the pool again that evening, return to GJ get on Amtrak return home. You can still be back for the first day of Fall (Harvest season)...

[Hobbyfarmer]

I remember when everybody tried to be done by Christmas, then twenty five years ago the date was moved to Thanksgiving, then in the late  nineties a few moved it to Halloween. Now it is one week past LABOR day and you think the sky is falling?

My beans are more green than yellow and my corn is just now "giving it up" and I am NOT one bit upset about it. It is still summer.  

The next goal I suppose is the 4th of July?

[Nebrfarmr]

Our corn, also seems to be drying down slowly, considering how quickly it got to where it is now.  I see it as an opportunity to add more test weight.

We had a total of one guy try picking the dried up rows around the edge of his field, and he commented on how 'green' everything still was, for as dried out as the corn actually looked.  He also commented that now he has one load of corn he has to 'babysit'.

Normal harvest for us, starts around October 1st, so there is plenty of time.  We'll surely have the dryland all done well before then.

[Mizzou_Tiger]

I agree........its still summer........trust me.......its no fun and not good when corn is coming out August 15th at 12 percent moisture.........and you finish before labor day........

Enjoy a good crop........enjoy the fall........some don't have much of anything.......

[GoredHusker]

According to the day length of the corn and the heat units we had, it was supposed to have been mature by mid-August.  While I totally understand the calendar and averages, I'm just really surprised the corn isn't finishing up.  In 2002, we were picking dry corn by September 15th which was the last time we had a summer with this kind of heat.  Guys are really chomping at the bit locally as the pastures are shot and everyone wants to get cows on the stalks.  There's also a feeling around here that the weather is about to change, and no one wants to fight combining and snow.

[sw363535]

I am seeing it a different way, Gored.

While I think Jec22 needs to put a smiley face on a comment that made me choke on my hot dog.  Laughing out loud and swallowing out loud don't go together.-------------------great post.

And I for the most part agree with Hobby, -----fall is supposed to be the fun/leisurely harvest, enjoyed by all till we have to come in for thanksgiving dinner.  Then rest for the winter from the overdose of pumpkin pie-----hint, hint.

I think the corn grain is acting just like it should,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but the plant that carries the corn is acting like an athlete who lost his steroid supplier.  Last week it looked like a super plant and two weeks later you wonder how that scrawny thing can hold up that ear.  I don't think we have any diseases that are new, but we sure got corn that needs a fungicide, micro, agronomic, etc package just to stand up till frost.

I am afraid we are going to wake up to wonder, "when did we stop good breeding programs in corn?"

Yea the weather is going to change, and sw is going to see the winds from hell as usual.  I used to know which varieties would take it and which ones might not.  Don't have to worry about that now--------they all fall apart -------some after black layer.