• place Update
Channel® Seed Brand
  • About Channel
    • Field Check Up Series
    • Sign Up - Email & Text
    • Become A Seedsman
    • Channel Financing
    • OnPoint Publication
  • Products
    • Seed Finder
    • Harvest Results
    • Trait Technology
    • Acceleron® Portfolio
    • Crop Protection
  • Tools
    • Grain Marketing
    • Population Optimizer
    • Profitability Calculator
    • Climate FieldView™
    • Channel ePay
  • Agronomy
    • Agronomy Library
  • Find Your Seedsman
search close
  • About Channel
    • Field Check Up Series
    • Sign Up - Email & Text
    • Become A Seedsman
    • Channel Financing
    • OnPoint Publication
  • Products
    • Seed Finder
    • Harvest Results
    • Trait Technology
    • Acceleron® Portfolio
    • Crop Protection
  • Tools
    • Grain Marketing
    • Population Optimizer
    • Profitability Calculator
    • Climate FieldView™
    • Channel ePay
  • Agronomy
    • Agronomy Library
  • Find Your Seedsman
Share This email print
October 25, 2018

Effects of Delayed Harvest Due to Snow

Early snowfall can hamper crop harvesting and can result in considerable yield loss. Depending on the amount of snow, air temperature, and additional moisture in the form of snow or rain, harvest may be delayed until the ground is frozen or next spring. Snowy fields can increase grain moisture content and be tough on harvesting equipment.y snowfall can hamper crop harvesting and can result in considerable yield loss. Depending on the amount of snow, air temperature, and additional moisture in the form of snow or rain, harvest may be delayed until the ground is frozen or next spring. Snowy fields can increase grain moisture content and be tough on harvesting equipment.

What to Watch For

The combination of late planting, abundant fall rain, and early snow can delay corn and soybean harvesting (Figure 1). Additionally, blanketing snow can reduce or prevent the soil from freezing to depths that can hold up harvesting equipment. With these conditions, harvest could be delayed until spring.

corn and soybeans in the snow Figure 1: Corn and soybean plants blanketed in snow.

Impact on Your Crop

The amount of potential yield loss for corn can be dependent on plant populations, stalk lodging, ear drop, ear size, grain quality, wildlife damage, and additional rain or snowfall amounts. A Wisconsin study (Table 1) shows the average percent loss in corn yield for the years 2000 and 2001 when corn was left in the field throughout the winter and harvested monthly through April.1 Lodging in 2000 increased the percent of lost yield compared to 2001.1 Corn kernels can become subject to sprouting during early spring-time melting before field conditions allow for harvest.

Very little yield loss information is available for soybean fields left through the winter; however, the potential for yield loss is likely to increase. Heavy snow can cause soybean plants to lodge or break off and become difficult to harvest. During melting cycles, pods can become wet and break open when seeds enlarge because of increased moisture content. Exposed seeds can drop to the ground, lose quality, or become food for foraging wildlife. High plant populations and soybean products with marginal standability characteristics may have a negative impact on winter-time standability. Additionally, as harvest is delayed, the opportunity for Diaporthe (pod and stem blight) increases.

Flooding Problems - Corn fields that are submerged for more than two days could suffer significant loss of nitrogen (N) through denitrification or leaching. Saturated soils result in denitrification, which the crust and aid seedling emergence. Timing is essential, and breaking the crust as soon as possible is most beneficial. If seeds are not infected with disease, cooler soils can allow seedlings to survive longer when trying to break through the crust.

Scouting and Replant Options

It is and consult local experts to determine if the previously applied corn herbicides could damage the replanted crop. It is important to scout fields entirely before making the decision to replant.

Tips to Manage

The cost of drying harvestable wet corn in late-fall or early-winter should be compared to the breakeven cost of leaving corn in the field through winter. If the drying bill is less than the estimated yield loss from lodging, ear drop, disease, and wildlife, then fall harvesting, if at possible, should be accomplished. Table 2 provides a total drying charge compared to a 5% to 40% winter yield loss at grain prices ranging from $3.00 to $4.25 per bushel.2 A higher corn price justifies increased drying costs while lower prices can decrease justification and increase the opportunity to leave corn in the field and harvest as weather and conditions permit throughout the winter.

Factors to weigh prior to harvesting a delayed harvest field:

  • Can the field support harvesting equipment without causing compaction or huge ruts?
  • Combines may be able to thresh wet or frozen corn; however, the combination of plant moisture and air temperatures (between 27° F and 35° F) can create an evaporative cooling effect and create grain cleaning problems. If plants are covered with snow or wet with moisture, the air temperature should be observed.
  • Standability should be considered - what is the stalk strength? Lodged corn that is dry may feed through the combine easier. Lodged soybean plants become difficult to pick up and sickle bars running close to the ground can be damaged.
  • What is your storage and drying situation for wet grain? Soybean moisture content should be below 20% for harvesting without causing seed damage.2
  • Potential for volunteer corn in the following crop.
  • If the crop is left through the winter, will other spring-time field activities be delayed?
  • Potential damage to equipment if harvesting through snow and wet fields.
Sources

1Schneider, N. and Lauer, J. 2009. Weigh risk of leaving corn stand through winter. University of Wisconsin. http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/

2Staton, M. 2017. Recommendations for a late soybean harvest. Michigan State University. http://www.canr.msu.edu/ Additional source: Jasa, P. 2010. Combine recommendations for spring harvest. CropWatch. University of Nebraska. https://cropwatch.unl.edu

Web sources verified 10/15/18. 180808110248

Was this page helpful?
Thank you! Your feedback has been submitted.
  • Contact Us
  • ePay
  • Financing
  • Merchandise
  • Stewardship
  • Future Technology
  • Channel® Protexus™
  • Food Grade Corn
  • In the News

Privacy Statement       Conditions of Use        Site Map

This website may contain “forward-looking statements” based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at http://www.bayer.com/.

The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and is a restricted use pesticide. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology and products with XtendFlex® Technology may not be approved in all states and may be subject to use restrictions in some states. Check with your local product dealer or representative or U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency for the product registration status and additional restrictions in your state. For approved tank-mix products and nozzles visit XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com.

NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans or cotton with XtendFlex® Technology.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state.

IMPORTANT IRM INFORMATION: RIB Complete® corn blend products do not require the planting of a structured refuge except in the Cotton-Growing Area where corn earworm is a significant pest. See the IRM/Grower Guide for additional information. Always read and follow IRM requirements.

FOR CORN, EACH ACCELERON® SEED APPLIED SOLUTIONS OFFERING is a combination of separate individually registered products containing the active ingredients: BASIC plus Poncho®/VOTiVO® Offering for corn: metalaxyl, prothioconazole, fluoxastrobin, clothianidin, Bacillus firmus I-1582. ELITE plus Poncho®/VOTiVO® Offering for corn: metalaxyl, clothianidin, and Bacillus firmus I-1582; prothioconazole and fluoxastrobin at rates that suppress additional diseases. BASIC Offering for corn: metalaxyl, prothioconazole, fluoxastrobin, and clothianidin. ELITE Offering for corn: metalaxyl, and clothianidin; prothioconazole and fluoxastrobin at rates that suppress additional diseases. BioRise™ Corn Offering is the on-seed application of either BioRise™ 360 ST or the separately registered seed applied products Acceleron® B-300 SAT and BioRise™ 360 ST.  BioRise™ Corn Offering is included seamlessly across offerings on all class of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 products.

FOR SOYBEANS, EACH ACCELERON® SEED APPLIED SOLUTIONS OFFERING is a combination of separate individually registered products containing the active ingredients: BASIC Offering: metalaxyl, fluxapyroxad, and pyraclostrobin. STANDARD Offering: metalaxyl, fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, and imidacloprid.

Commercialization of XtendFlex® soybeans is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell. Soybeans with XtendFlex® Technology contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Monsanto Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Not all products are approved in all states.

In the following states, purchase and use of HarvXtra® Alfalfa with Roundup Ready® Technology is subject to a Seed and Feed Use Agreement, requiring that products of this technology can only be used on farm or otherwise be used in the United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. In addition, due to the unique cropping practices do not plant HarvXtra® Alfalfa with Roundup Ready® Technology in Imperial County, California, pending import approval and until Forage Genetics International, LLC (FGI) grants express permission for such planting.

Forage Genetics International, LLC (“FGI”) is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). FGI products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with FGI’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. HarvXtra® Alfalfa with Roundup Ready® Technology and Roundup Ready® Alfalfa have pending import approvals. GROWERS MUST DIRECT ANY PRODUCT PRODUCED FROM HARVXTRA® ALFALFA WITH ROUNDUP READY® TECHNOLOGY SEED OR CROPS (INCLUDING HAY AND HAY PRODUCTS) ONLY TO UNITED STATES DOMESTIC USE. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Growers should refer to http://www.biotradestatus.com/ for any updated information on import country approvals. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Roundup Ready® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate. Roundup Ready® 2 Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate and dicamba.  Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Monsanto Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.


Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Harness®, Roundup PowerMAX®II, TripleFLEX® II Herbicide and Warrant® Herbicide are not registered in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. Balance Flexx, Corvus, Degree Xtra, Harness Xtra and Harness Xtra 5.6L are Restricted Use Pesticides. Not all products are registered in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. Degree Xtra® is a restricted use pesticide and is not registered in all states. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Channel® and the Arrow Design®, Protexus™ and Seedsmanship At Work® are trademarks of Channel Bio, LLC. Climate FieldView™ services provide estimates or recommendations based on models. These do not guarantee results. Consult your agronomist, commodities broker and other service professionals before making financial, risk management, and farming decisions. More information at http://www.climate.com/disclaimers. FieldView™ is a trademark of The Climate Corporation. HarvXtra® is a registered trademark of Forage Genetics International, LLC. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Agrisure Viptera® is a registered trademark of a Syngenta group company. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® is a trademark of BASF Corporation. Respect the Refuge and Corn Design® and Respect the Refuge® are registered trademarks of National Corn Growers Association. Acceleron®, Balance®, Balance Flexx, Capreno®, Corvus®, CSI™, Degree Xtra®, Delaro®, DiFlexx®, DroughtGard®, Harness®, Laudis®, NemaStrike®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design™, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup®, Roundup PowerMAX®, Roundup WeatherMAX® SmartStax®, Trecepta®, TripleFLEX®, TruFlex™, VaporGrip®, VT Double PRO®, VT Triple PRO®, Warrant® XtendiMax® and XtendFlex® are trademarks of Bayer Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2019 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

Legals