High moisture and lower test weight corn is common across the Northern Plains this year. Some farmers harvested corn and put it in the grain bin wet. NDSU Extension Engineer Ken Hellevang says corn at 20 to 21 percent moisture can be stored over winter ok, with drying resuming at a later opportunity. If corn moisture is higher than that going into storage, corn kernels can freeze together. “With high moisture corn, if it’s about 22 percent moisture, we need to have it out of the bin and run through a high temperature dryer by late winter.” Leaving the corn in fields to dry down is another option being considered. Hellevang reminds farmers to do some analysis of stalks before determining to leave the corn stand. When the crop stands, it will likely be dried down in late winter. At that point, it can be harvested. “I encourage farmers to harvest corn before spring melt.”
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