Manitoba corn harvest update

Oct 15, 2018

As of Monday, grain corn harvest in Manitoba is approximately 30% complete. This coming week is looking very positive with regards to the weather, so progress should be impressive in a week's time.

When organizing field order of corn harvest, kernel moisture is the leading factor. However, due to environmental conditions damaging stalks this year, order of harvest may require additional factors. A push-test is an easy method to determine if a field should be harvested before others. At ear-height, or just below the ear, push the corn stalk to a 45 degree angle, and repeat on 50 plants (10 plants at 5 stops in the field). If 10% or more of the stalks have breakage, consider harvesting that field next. Losses due to lodging appear to be significant this year, so following these steps could simply save some yield.

Conditions haven't been ideal for natural grain dry down in the field. Manitoba Agriculture has an article from a while back indicating speed of natural drying in the field, in October and November. It also touches on artificial low temperature versus high temperature drying, estimating drying costs, in-storage cooling and much more. It is a great reference to bookmark for future reference.

The Manitoba Corn Growers Association would like to wish everyone a very safe and happy remainder of harvest for 2018!

Source : Government of Manitoba

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.