By: Greg Brenneman
In the past couple of weeks a lot of corn and soybeans went into storage with temperatures in the 60s. With grain this warm, moisture migration within the grain mass and spoilage can occur very quickly, even with fairly dry grain.
Farmers should consider soybean aphids a potential pest for 2013. A recently updated Iowa State University publication, Soybean aphid-resistant varities for Iowa, will assist farmers in adopting new management techniques, possibly reducing their need for a foliar insecticide.
By Greg Brenneman, ISU Extension and Outreach
So far this harvest, a lot of corn and soybeans have gone into storage at temperatures in the 70s and some 80s. With grain this warm, moisture migration and spoilage can occur quickly, even with fairly dry grain. With forecast highs in the 50s with lows in the 30s for this weekend and next week, grain bin fans should be running by the end of the week to get stored grain cooled down as soon as possible.
Once grain is dry and cold, Aflatoxin is rarely able to grow. But producers are finding two problematic situations this fall with high moisture variability within fields and bin dryers operated below 120F.
By Chuck Schwab, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Grain dust is always a health concern for Iowa farmers and those working in the grain industry. Drought conditions this year may elevate human and animal health concerns because of increased dust and mold exposure. The Iowa Department of Public Health has issued 2012 Iowa Harvest Exposure to Mold and Dust in Grain, a fact sheet covering the following information.
Handling seed with low moisture must be done very carefully to prevent damage to seed coats. This includes seed movement during harvest, seed cleaning, seed treatment and delivery to planters.
When corn harvesting conditions allow optimal time for in-field drying, taking full advantage can reduce on-farm energy consumption. A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach explains the basic principles of energy management for grain drying.
Grain quality this year should be good, but not exceptional. Stresses will cause variability. Grain will be warm coming out of the field; both corn and beans will need to be cooled immediately after harvest. (NOTE: This article was updated with correct hybrid numbers on 09/15/2011, after publication.)
With larger than average areas of Iowa dealing with lodged or downed cornstalks due to recent storms, it's a good time to review steps to take when faced with harvesting significant areas of lodged corn.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey reminded farmers in a news release June 21 that grain impacted by flood waters is considered adulterated and cannot be used for feed or food. He references this article by Charlie Hurburgh and Dan Loy.
