Corn harvest has begun in Central Illinois

Welcome to the Outstanding in the Field podcast. It is the third week of September twenty twenty six. My name is Doug Gucker, Extension commercial ag educator here in East Central Illinois. Corn harvest has increased across the area. The shelled corn moisture in early planted corn has dropped to as low as 15%.

Here in this area, poor stalk quality in some fields is pushing farmers to harvest this year's corn crop as quickly as possible. The poor stalk quality is due to a combination of root crown and lower stalk rots affecting many of the commonly planted corn hybrids. Early harvest yield results are good but running below last year's in the fields experiencing stalk and root issues. Early maturity soybean fields are nearly at the r 8 full maturity stage depending on the weather, soybean harvest will start within the next week to ten days. With harvest season comes decisions on fertilizer applications and the review of crop hybrids and varieties planted.

Some quick fertility cost cutting tips are maintain an optimal soil pH to maximize the availability of your soil's nutrients. If your recent soil phosphorus and potassium tests are showing levels above the recommended maintenance levels, this might be the year to cut back on your p and k applications and use some of your soil surplus to make up the difference. Using the nitrogen rate calculator can save you money while still ensuring good yields without over applying this nutrient. University agronomists across the Midwest are suggesting that farmers consider planting hybrid and soybean varieties with good root and plant health qualities to reduce the need for additional pesticide applications and costs. With harvest here, remember to take short breaks to clear and refresh your mind, eat healthy snacks during those long harvest days, and try to get a good night's sleep.

As always, remember, it is profit per acre, not yield per acre, that keeps you in the farming business. Thanks for listening.