by Ben Nuelle LISTEN: World of Agriculture 7-25-16
Looks like we?ll get a break from the extreme heat this week which means good news for corn.
Majority of Iowa?s corn is on the tail end of pollination but the right temperatures during the day and night make all the difference.
Mark Licht is an ISU Extension Cropping Systems Specialist.
He says hot temperatures during pollination are not good for many reasons.
?Pollination time is critical from a temperature standpoint because it we?re really pollinating those kernels and getting first concrete step toward that grain fill period we look forward to. If we have hot temperatures it is increasing demand for water within the plant and hotter temperatures come with more transpiration typically.?
Licht says daytime temperatures don?t matter as much as nighttime.
He says higher day and nighttime temperatures speed up development of corn which means smaller kernels.
Licht says right now may be too early too tell.
