The harvest is in full swing and will be finished soon
Just like last year, this year too – the harvest of corn for grain started quite quickly. At the end of August, among others in southern Wielkopolska, Lower Silesia and Opole region, the harvest of the earliest grain crops and plantations most affected by drought were underway. It seemed that the corn harvest would be completed exceptionally quickly. However, later on, the weather conditions verified everything. Rainfall, which appeared in mid-September, interrupted the harvest for over a week. However, since last Saturday, the full harvest of corn has been observed in the south-western regions. If weather conditions allow, the vast majority of corn will be harvested by the end of September.
Prices stable but low
Wet corn prices are most often in the range of PLN 450-470/t. When it comes to grain moisture, it usually ranges from 25 to 30%. Plantations mown at lower humidity appear, although it can be noticed that after heavy rainfall over a week ago, grain moisture "does not want" to drop below a certain value. Plantations that had this parameter at a level of around 30% two weeks ago also have similar indications now. Those who can, mow, because waiting for much lower humidity will not always be the best solution. If rainfall occurs again, not only will humidity not be lower, but it will also be difficult to enter the field. In addition, there is the issue of price, which, although relatively stable, has dropped by around PLN 30/t since the beginning of the harvest. In addition, at low humidity we also have a loss of mass. It is often said that it is 30% humidity that is the best, because the best correlation of this parameter and mass is obtained. The correlation between mass and moisture content can be checked in the corn drying calculator (link below), where by substituting the data we can check what mass loss should be expected at appropriately lower moisture content.
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Did the corn defend itself?
It is difficult to comment on the harvest, because it is always a rather individual matter. This year, their range is very wide. Unfortunately, in the locations most affected by drought, the harvest was disastrous, because there were reports of results of around 3-4 t/ha. The tragic situation concerns farms affected by the flood, because some corn plantations can no longer be harvested.
However, it is difficult to even make any regionalisation, because due to the uneven distribution of rainfall, even within just one commune one could observe plantations in good condition, as well as those that should basically be liquidated, because due to drought they did not even produce a cob.
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Mulcher or disc harrow? What's better after grain corn?
Nevertheless, in general, it can be said that corn in the south-western regions has defended itself, and yields are stable. In good positions with humidity of 28-30 percent, results of over 9-10 t/ha are obtained. Some farmers report harvests of over 12-13 t/ha. What is important, however, is that the yields, although good locally, do not come close to the results from the best seasons. Where there was a bit more rainfall, they are good, stable, but certainly not record-breaking. In all this, however, the problem is the price. Even with harvests of 10 t/ha in the best situation, at most the production costs are recovered.
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Corn for Grain Good for the Soil. Benefits from Crop Residue