By Victor Gomes
Driving across the state last week to attend the NC Corn Growers Association meeting and the Blacklands Farm Managers Tour, I observed corn fields in a wide range of conditions. Some fields look fairly promising, while others are showing severe drought stress and may have limited grain yield potential. Symptoms in the drought stressed corn fields include stunted plants, with very little biomass accumulation, and ‘burnt’ leaves.
Some of the most severely affected fields appear to be those planted early into dry conditions and subsequently exposed to prolonged drought during critical stages of corn development, particularly tasseling and pollination. When drought occurs during these stages, poor pollination and kernel development can substantially reduce grain yield potential.
For producers who have determined that a field is unlikely to produce an economical grain crop, harvesting the crop for forage may be an option to recover some of its value. This may be particularly attractive for livestock operations, although drought-stressed corn can also be harvested and marketed as forage. However, several important considerations should be addressed before making the decision to harvest drought-stressed corn for silage, baleage, or hay.
Evaluate the crop before harvesting
Before deciding to harvest drought-stressed corn, evaluate the condition of the crop and its potential to produce grain. Not all drought-stressed corn should be harvested immediately.
If pollination was successful and ears contain developing kernels, allowing the crop additional time may increase grain and dry matter accumulation. On the other hand, fields with poor pollination, limited kernel development, and severe plant deterioration may have little grain yield potential and may be better candidates for forage harvest.
Source : ncsu.edu