Fall Harvest Observations

Harvesting the balance of the 2020 crop, the combine or chopper operator has a bird’s eye view of the crops condition and performance. Along with the yield monitoring equipment, the operator’s observations and keen eye can help pin – point abnormalities. Crop appearance, field erosion, disease presence, wildlife damage, hedge row competition, drainage, weed pressure, skips, harvest populations, and of course, volume through the harvester.

General crop appearance, crop color, density, ear placement and size, pod formations and counts, and general stalk quality in all crops should be analyzed. Don’t forget about your straw quality in your small grains, too.

Field erosion may be a signal of a bigger problem. Where is the source of water causing the erosion coming from and can it be diverted or corrected? Field erosion can not only mean soil loss, but also nutrient loss which can lead to environmental issues with neighbors and potential regulators. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program can help guide you in reducing your nutrient losses. Don’t forget to ask your CaroVail Sales Rep, too!

Disease pressure often presents itself as a leaf disease, stalk disease, or root condition concern. Is the pressure heavier in isolated areas or is it field wide? Is it on certain soil types, spots with drainage issues, or is it variety specific? Pressure may demand action in subsequent crops by rotation or timely application of fungicides.

Wildlife damage may be crop or location driven. Will birds and waterfowl cause potential damages? Where are the surrounding crops, wildlife habitats, ponds, rivers, and other above ground water sources in the area? Will different crops or buffer crops aid in the control of wildlife?

Analyze your weed control. Are there skips, areas of concentration of late season weeds or hard to control weeds like field bindweed, burcucumber, marestail, or weeds such as nutsedge that may require a different control approach? Identifying weed challenges may require a multiple application approach or a crop rotation. Considering this now can help you better prepare for the next growing season. Discussing these concerns with your CaroVail Sales Rep can help us recommend a different program that may target these problem areas.

The keen observations of the harvest machine operator can help direct fall soil testing to whole field or a zone / grid approach. Would your farm benefit from variable rate seed drop or fertilizer applications? What about variety selections for the next crop year? Keep these observations in mind for the 2021 growing season. It’s never too early to start planning.

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