Understanding corn kernel dry down for smart harvesting

By Andi Anderson

Corn harvest season brings with it important decisions for farmers, and one critical factor to consider is the moisture content of corn kernels. The level of moisture in corn kernels can significantly impact drying costs, including moisture price discounts, drying fees, and shrinkage. It also affects the efficiency of harvest equipment. Therefore, understanding how corn kernels dry down in the field is crucial for maximizing profitability.

Several factors come into play when it comes to the rate of corn kernel dry down:

• Environmental Conditions: Weather elements such as temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, humidity, and wind play a significant role in how quickly corn kernels dry down in the field. Favorable conditions can lead to rapid drying.
• Corn Maturation: The timing of corn maturation, particularly reaching the black layer stage (maximum yield), is crucial. Early-planted corn hybrids tend to mature more quickly than late-planted ones. This means that early-maturity hybrids often reach the black layer stage earlier than late-maturity hybrids.
• Other Factors: Aspects like ear angle, husk leaf senescence, husk leaf thickness, tightness, and the number of husk leaves also influence drying rates.

Recent data from field trials conducted by the Cropping Systems Agronomy lab at Michigan State University sheds light on corn kernel dry down rates for different hybrids and planting times. Here's what the data reveals:

• Dry down rates are generally higher for early-planted corn hybrids.
• Early-maturity hybrids tend to mature faster than late-maturity ones.
• The rate of dry down can be influenced by the weather conditions experienced during the corn's maturation.

In particular, the data showed that abnormally warm and dry weather in late September and early October can greatly accelerate drying rates, exceeding 0.7% per day. However, it's essential to note that not all corn fields reach maturity at the same time, and some may lag behind. Late-maturing corn could continue to lose moisture into early November.

Understanding these factors and monitoring environmental conditions is crucial for making informed harvest decisions. It allows farmers to optimize their harvesting schedules, reduce drying costs, and maximize profitability during corn harvest season.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-dale-fornoff