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Grain Safety Shorts: Aeration – why, when, and how?

October 23, 2023 9:28 AM
Blog Post

Agricultural confined-space related cases of injuries and fatalities saw a dramatic rise in 2022, including grain entrapment cases which rose nearly 45%, based on Purdue University’s annual report. Iowa had more cases of grain entrapment than any other state at 9 total in 2022. Nearly all of these cases involved grain flow issues due to grain spoilage, which means that improved grain management could prevent cases in the future.

Grain Safety Shorts: Grain Handling Equipment Safety

September 25, 2023 12:49 PM
Blog Post

Agricultural confined-space related cases of injuries and fatalities saw a dramatic rise in 2022, including grain entrapment cases which rose nearly 45%, based on Purdue University’s annual report. Iowa had more cases of grain entrapment than any other state at 9 total in 2022. Nearly all of these cases involved grain flow issues due to grain spoilage, which means that improved grain management could prevent cases in the future.

Tips for 2023 Harvest: Handling grain when moisture is low and variability is high

September 25, 2023
Combine dumping harvested corn.

Across Iowa, grain harvest is ramping up. A challenge this harvest season will be dealing with variable grain moistures from field to field as well as within individual fields. Additionally, drought conditions that have persisted all year and rapid accumulation of growing degree days are leading to grain that quickly became overly dry. Follow the below set of tips to limit yield loss this fall.

Crops: 

Guess who's back? It's the edge effect.

September 21, 2023 10:18 AM
Blog Post

We are once again receiving reports of the notable “edge effect” causing dramatic yield reductions along corn field edges. Occasionally, we get reports earlier in the season as it is often visible from drone or aerial footage in the late part of the season as field edges mature more quickly that the field interior (Figure 1).

Corn Harvest: Fall 2023 Prioritizing Harvest

September 19, 2023 9:50 AM
Blog Post

After walking several fields last week before harvest got into full force, I noted fields where stalk integrity was a concern. If you have not done so already, I would encourage walking fields before harvest to understand how your crop will stand through the harvest season. A pre-harvest walk will help to prioritize harvest of fields and will help reduce harvest loss of compromised corn.

Grain Safety Shorts: Bin Prep

September 13, 2023 8:51 AM
Blog Post

Agricultural confined-space related cases of injuries and fatalities saw a dramatic rise in 2022, including grain entrapment cases which rose nearly 45%, based on Purdue University’s annual report. Iowa had more cases of grain entrapment than any other state at 9 total in 2022. Nearly all of these cases involved grain flow issues due to grain spoilage, which means that improved grain management could prevent cases in the future.

Impact of Premature Corn Death

September 12, 2023 9:18 AM
Blog Post

The last couple heat waves combined with continued drought stress has brought on premature corn death. What should be expected as corn grain harvest gets underway? First and foremost expect VARIABILITY of both grain moisture and yield within and between fields. Next plan for variable and possibly low test weight corn. This is especially important in a drought year where a hybrid may have died prematurely.

Time to get your grain bins ready for harvest

September 6, 2022 4:15 PM
Blog Post

Before the rush of harvest gets here, take some time to get your grain bins ready for a new crop. The first step in minimizing grain spoilage from insects is to start with a clean bin. Grain-feeding pests can survive on residual grain, broken kernels, fines, foreign material, and molds accumulated inside grain bins and around the bin perimeter. To reduce infestations, limit accessibility by sealing gaps and cracks, cleaning grain-handing equipment, remove all potential food sources, and in some cases applying insecticides.  

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