POSTAL CUSTOMER
Volume IV, Issue 1
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #36 OMAHA, NE
January 2010
Less than ideal weather challenges seed corn growers for third year in a row by Emma Struve “The quality of seed corn depends on the weather and environment under which it developed, among many other factors, and during 2009 companies faced a catch-22 when it came time to harvest.” Dave Granzow, Pioneer seed corn producer from McCallsburg in Story County, explained the challenge companies sometimes faced boiled down to the “dilemma” of choosing to harvest the crop with higher than typical moisture, and expose it to more drying time, thereby potentially negatively affecting germination or leave it in the field and risk frost damage. Typically, seed corn is harvested before it ever receives frost. The amount of damage from frost depends on the moisture of the crop, how long it is exposed to freezing temperatures, and how cold it gets, he continued. Roger Elmore, ISU Extension agronomist specializing in corn production, noted that the experience of corn growers during 2009 was highly dependent upon location and said those in the southwest and northwest portions of Iowa “had a relatively good year.” Crop producers across the state were hit with early frosts in some areas that adversely “affected the seed producers more so than the grain producer,” further enhancing issues with germination, he continued. In some production areas, the northeast portion of Iowa in particular, producers ended up with lighter kernel (seed) weights. “A slow growing season” characterized by cool temperatures and slow development,” Elmore said was “the thing that happened to almost all of us.” He remarked that several relatively widespread hail events also resulted in crop damage. However, unlike 2008, spring planting delays were not as prevalent in 2009 and the crop was, overall, planted on time. “2008 was a devastating year for me,” Granzow stated. Continued on Page 22
Russ Kurth retires from Logan NRCS office after 23 years....Page 3
Average value of farm land in Iowa drops by 2.2 percent ....Page 19
The Farmer’s Wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Futures Market Commentary . . . .14 Classified Advertising . . . . . . . . . .30