Harvest report Farmers are making good progress on harvest with great drying weather. Soybeans, for the most part, were all harvested by Oct. 8. Yields were disappointing for nearly all growers. However, corn growers are pleasantly surprised with their yields. It’s hard to explain why soybean yields were so poor and corn yields are much better than expected. Corn roots were evidently able to find enough moisture to keep plants alive. Soybean yields are typically 1/3 of corn, so growers harvesting 30-bushel soybeans should harvest 90-100 bushel corn. Corn yields this fall are more like 4-5 times that of soybeans. Test weights are lower than normal, especially on the sandy soils where plants died prematurely. Small seed size is common on the droughty soils. Our Corn Agronomist, Dale Hicks, said small corn seeds will have higher protein values – 12 percent versus 9 percent – than normal seeds. With higher protein levels, the starch content drops. Higher protein level may be an advantage in some feed rations but not for ethanol production. Killing frost arrives early A killing frost is considered 28 degrees. This is the temperature where plant cells rupture, killing leaf tissue. Local weatherman Glen Young said we had temperatures as cold as 27 degrees in Litchfield on the first day of October. The frost arrived a few days ahead of schedule. The average first date of 28 degrees occurs Oct. 7 in Willmar, Oct. 10 in Bird Island, and Oct. 13 in Montevideo. Apples and frost I was worried that apples on my trees may not survive the freeze so I harvested my Honeycrisp tree before the frost. My Fireside I knew needed a few more days so I gambled and left them on the tree. Apples will tolerate frosts into the mid 20’s, depending on the sugar content of the apple. Sugar lowers the freezing point in apples, so apples near maturity will handle colder temperatures. The temperature dipped too low for my raspberries and covered tomatoes. I can live without tomatoes but I sure miss those fresh raspberries. Purchasing high-moisture corn Each fall I receive calls from farmers about purchasing high moisture corn from their neighbors. We have tables that convert corn weight to harvested yield for number two corn. Another chart calculates the price per pound of high moisture corn based on values of $1.80 per bushel to $2.50 per bushel. These charts give farmers the basics on how to determine the value of high moisture corn, but they don’t take into account daily changes in grain moisture or how loads vary in weight. It might be more accurate if farmers estimate bushels inside the silo and leave check strips in the field so they can be weighed. Taking an average of the two figures will be more accurate than simply using one method to determine yield. Plum varieties for Minnesota The U of M and neighboring universities have developed a number of plum varieties suitable for this part of the state. Alderman, LaCrescent, Pipestone, Superior, Toka, and Underwood are all considered hybrid plums and should not only survive, but produce fruit. Hybrid plums require a pollinizer to set fruit. Trees should be planted within 100 yards of each other. One of the better known pollinizers is Toka, but South Dakota, Compass or Superior will also do the job. In addition to tasty fruit, plum trees break out in blossom early in spring, brightening up a gray landscape. If you are looking for something new to add to your landscape, consider one of the hybrid plums. They will add both color and delicious fruit that the whole family can enjoy.
