Monthly Archives: December 2010

A Mid-Winter’s Tale

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Rich Lee (Iowa)

It was the season before spring work; all is covered in snow, ‘tis the time we are frozen, when nothing will go. The tractors are tucked, all snug in the shed, in the hope that warm weather soon was ahead. And dreaming of green crops and new record yields, I could almost smell the dirt from freshly-plowed fields. When all of a sudden I awoke with a start, I knew that odd sound, I knew it by heart. I flipped … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn, Heartland, Planting, Soybeans, Uncategorized, Yield | View Comments

Which is King: Yield or Test Weight?

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Mark Ellis (Kansas)

As I traveled the state of Kansas, the one question that seemed to be on everyone’s mind was the quality of corn test weight.  Test weight is expressed as pounds per volumetric bushel. Corn test weights can range from 45 to over 60 lbs. per bushel.  The market standard is 54 lbs. per bushel, the grade limit for No. 2 yellow corn. Kernel size, shape and density all affect test weight. Higher test weights mean better filled kernels with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Harvest, High Plains, Kansas, Profitability, Yield | View Comments

Watch Out, Kansas!

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Mark Ellis (Kansas)

In Kansas, there is a lot of discussion about what we need to keep an eye out for next year…..Gray Leaf Spot, Eyespot, Goss’s Wilt, Anthracnose Stalk Rot, Common Rust, Northern Corn Leaf Blight, or do we want to talk about soybeans….. Cyst Nematodes, Iron Deficiency Chlorosis, Brown Stem Rot, Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), Frogeye Leaf Spot??? We need to be aware of ALL of them!  In eastern Nebraska they had a bad breakout of Goss’s Wilt, which is typically … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Disease, Genetic diversity, High Plains, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Soybeans | View Comments