Now that we’re in September, several area crops are getting closer to harvest time.

West Central Cooperative Field Agronomist Scott Shannon says some corn silage is currently being harvested for cattle feed.  However, he anticipates regular harvest for grain to begin in the next two weeks.

As people drive around, corn stalks are starting to show a mix of greens and browns.  Shannon explains that depending on the corn’s maturity, longer seasoned corn are still green, while shorter seasoned corn is turning brown.  However, Shannon points out that it’s okay for corn to turn brown.

“If it was earlier in the season, you wouldn’t want to see the brown (color).  But eventually it’s a natural process where the plant will take the energy out of the stalk and put it into the ear and then the plant will die.  That’s when you can harvest the ear and have a grain at lower moisture levels.”

He adds that soybeans go through the same process, but they turn a yellow color when they are ready for harvest.  He says the main difference between the corn seed hybrids is spreading out the workload for farmers and there are potential yield advantages with a fuller seasoned corn seed.

Soybean harvest typically starts before corn in the last week of September, due to soybeans having a greater risk of loss and they mature earlier than corn does.