When we last heard from Dekalb/Asgrow agronomist John Swalwell, we talked about the challenges that faced Iowa farmers across the board during this growing season. He noted that there is no clear roadmap for how farmers will have to handle the harvest this year. However, he said there is a recipe for success.
Scouting is going to be the key to a successful harvest in 2020. In the Western part of Iowa, Swalwell says there is high variability, often in the same field. He highly suggests getting your eyes on the crop and look at what is ready and what needs a little more time. The key will be finding a harvest date that is not too late for some crops, and too early for others.
Swalwell says that producers need to pay particular attention to the corn stalks this year. You may not have seen much in the way of disease pressure, or you saw it earlier in the year; but with the stresses we saw in the summer, the corn may have started cannibalizing its own stalk.
For those producers who are still planning to attempt to harvest a crop that was damaged in the derecho, you need to be paying close attention to monitor for any ear mold issues. Swalwell says his counterparts in the eastern and central parts of the state said the instances of mold were relatively low, considering we had hot and dry weather after the derecho. Nonetheless, it is something farmers need to be looking at.
Swalwell says that in the end, stressors or not, this ?isn?t rocket science.? It comes down to knowledge of farming and knowing your crops. Work with your crop advisors to devise a plan that will work for you. Be ready to go as soon as the crop is ready.
In the end, scouting and making a plan will do more to salvage the maximum amount of bushels out of a crop that may be less than stellar in 2020.
John Swalwell is a Technical Agronomist for Dekalb/Asgrow. To learn more about their products and services, log on to their website.
