Field and Garden: Corn and beans need warm weather

“Of all my crops, the corn is struggling the most,” a farmer texted last week. He continued, “Some, but not all, of our corn may make knee-high by the 4th of July. I’d rather it was waist-high.”

The slow development of this year’s corn and soybean crops has frequently come up in my recent conversations with farmers.

Cool weather is to blame. Temperatures warmed considerably last week, but overall, our daytime highs have averaged three degrees below normal since corn was planted mid-May.

Crops like wheat and canola thrive under cool conditions, but corn and soybeans grow fastest when daytime highs are in the low to mid-80s.

The accumulation of growing degree days, or heat units, can be used to estimate and predict crop growth.

A typical corn hybrid in our region needs 1,850 to 2,150 growing degree units to reach maturity.

Corn planted on May 15 of this year had accumulated 610 growing degree units by July 4. In a normal year, we would expect to have 750 units. Last year, we had 957 units.

There are two factors to consider as we look toward the next several months.

First, I’m not aware of any correlation between plant height on July 4 and yield. What’s important is that the plant has a well-developed canopy that can intercept near maximum light at the silking stage.

Secondly, weather remains a crucial factor. Corn and soybean crops require warm conditions during the rest of summer and into the fall. An early frost could decrease grain yield and quality while also raising grain drying costs.

In case you’re wondering, the last 25 years have seen five cooler years than this one between May 15 and July 4: 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Only one year, 2018, has been wetter.

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Whether you’re a farmer, rancher, or townsperson, I hope to see you at the Carrington REC Field Day this Tuesday, July 16. The program kicks off with registration, coffee and a welcome at 9 a.m.

Morning tours begin at 9:30 a.m. and wrap up with lunch at noon. Attendees can choose from four tour options: agronomy, northern hardy fruit, beef cattle and organic/sustainable agriculture.

I’m particularly excited about the specialty tour starting at 1:15 p.m., where participants will have the chance to view research plots of lupin, kernza, pennycress and sorghum.

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I am collaborating with several Extension agents and specialists to offer a day camp for young cattle enthusiasts aged 13 to 18.

Junior Beef Producer Camp will cover topics such as cattle handling, artificial insemination, proper vaccination methods, hay sampling and calving procedures.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about careers in the livestock industry during a lunchtime panel discussion. After lunch, we will tour a local livestock processing facility.

The day camp will be held at the Carrington REC on Wednesday, July 31.

Preregistration is required by July 22. For more information, please contact me at 652-2581 or visit the NDSU website at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/events/junior-beef-producers-camp.