A local weather report shows that in the month of October, we had 5 days without rainfall. If it wasn't so cool out there I would think that climate change was going to result in a tropical rain forest around here.
In August and September, I know that most of us expected to be combining dry corn this fall. What a surprise to find the corn still quite wet. In the warm, dryer weather of September it is possible for the grain to dry a point a day. Average drydown rates are about .4-.8% a day for October. This year with continued wet weather we were looking at .3% or less a day. Historically, drydown in November is usually so low it is unmeasurable.
So it seems that the blame this year lies with mother nature, however there are other factors that effect grain drydown. Maybe not so much in 2012, but important to remember when choosing hybrids for next year.
One factor that effect drydown is the timing of physiological maturity. Two hybrids that differ by one day of relative maturity with usually differ by 1/2 point of moisture if planted on the same day.
And finally, hybrid characteristics effect drydown. The number, thickness and tightness of the husk leaves effect the rate that moisture leaves the cob. As well, the rate the husk leaves die effect the moisture leaving the cob. We saw this on drought stricken fields this year. Expecting the 50-100bus/ac crop to be dry it was actually quite wet as the stalk and husk leaves had not naturally senesced from the need to fill the grain. The ear angle and thickness of the kernel pericarp (skin) also effects the drydown rate.
Look for grain dry down ratings in your Pioneer seed catalogue. You will see Hybrids like 38M58, P9910XR and P0216AM all have average to above average grain drydown.
On a side note, for the most part the corn that is still out there handled Sandy's wind and rain quite well. I have seen a few patches in fields that have gone down but nothing like the devastation that I envisioned as I listened to the wind howl Monday night.
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