By Patricio Grassini and Jose Andrade el.at
Key Takeaways
Irrigated corn: Near- to below-average yields are expected due to above-average nighttime temperatures during flowering and early grain filling.
Rainfed corn: Yield prospects remain strongest across the central and eastern Corn Belt, while western areas face a greater risk of below-average yields.
Looking ahead: Late-season temperature and rainfall will be critical in determining final yield potential.
Corn across much of the U.S. Corn Belt has progressed into the grain-filling stages, and weather conditions during the remainder of the season will continue to shape end-of-season yield potential.
Simulations of corn growth and end-of-season yield potential were completed on Aug. 4 for 43 locations across the U.S. Corn Belt using the UNL Hybrid-Maize crop model in collaboration with faculty and Extension educators from 10 universities. Simulated crop stages and yield forecasts for each location are provided in Table 1.
This article summarizes the simulated crop stages and yield forecasts. Details on the UNL Hybrid-Maize crop model, the methodology used to simulate crop development and forecast end-of-season yields, and guidance on interpreting and using these forecasts are available in a previous article.
Above-average temperatures, especially at night, were observed in the central, western, and northern regions of the Corn Belt, while the eastern region (Indiana, Missouri, Ohio) experienced near-normal temperatures. High temperatures can lead to a shorter grain filling duration. In addition, nighttime temperatures exceeding 70°F increase crop respiration and can reduce crop growth.
Source : unl.edu