By Blake Jackson
An overall cool summer helped to offset the dry silage growing season in much of southcentral Pennsylvania, according to Penn State Extension agronomy educator Jeff Graybill.
Harvest is on schedule and about 95% complete in Lancaster and surrounding counties as of Sept. 26, Graybill said. While rainfall was down about 25% this season, heat units were only up about 3%, making for a relatively cool summer. This allowed corn to mature at a normal rate, and yields were average as farmers sought to chop silage in the ideal range of 65%-68% moisture.
According to Jeff Graybill, Penn State Extension agronomy educator, corn maturity in southcentral Pennsylvania was average this year, which is better than expected given the dry conditions.
Dry conditions were more severe in some areas, resulting in drought stress in corn. Excessive rain delayed plant maturity in other parts of the state. A producer in Mifflin County reports harvest being about a week behind schedule due to moisture, according to Graybill.
Even though the silage harvest is a week behind schedule in some areas due to moisture, there is still time to catch up because wheat and cover crop planting is focused on the first two weeks of October.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-chrisboswell
Categories: Pennsylvania, Harvesting