Farmers know that it "ain’t over till it’s in the bin"
By Ed Lentz, OSU Extension, Hancock County
Edited by Mark Badertscher, OSU Extension, Hardin County
HARDIN COUNTY– Timely rainfall in early August is critical for optimal-to-record breaking yields in soybean and corn. Soon, the flowering period will end in soybean and adequate soil moisture will be required to prevent pod and seed abortion. If a farmer has an adequate soybean stand, August rains will determine whether bean yields are large or just average. For corn, most of it had successful pollination, but adequate soil moisture will be required to prevent kernel abortion and to ensure good grain fill. So far, rain events have been hit and miss across the county, putting more importance on timely August rains.
Each year farmers are concerned that their corn crop will mature before the first killing frost. To be ‘safe’, the corn needs to reach physiological maturity before a frost. Physiological maturity is when kernels have obtained maximum dry weight. Generally, a black layer will form at the tip of the kernel at maturity – to see the black layer an individual may have to break the point at the kernel tip. Farmers use the phrase, ‘their corn is at black layer’ to indicate the field is mature and is safe from frost damage.
