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Low test weights could drag down corn yields this fall

Low test weights could be a real drag on corn yields this fall.

University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says premature development is likely in areas that experienced spring planting delays and a recent hard freeze.

“Once you get down below 28 (degrees), that really shuts things off and you have what you have and can have lighter test weights.”

But if temps remain above 28 degrees, he tells Brownfield kernels will continue to fill.

“You’ll still get re-mobilization, even out of the stalk and so forth when it’s above that temperature. So things will continue to flow into the kernels on these late-planted corn plants.”

Nicolai says test weights in some areas could be as much as five pounds lighter this year given the challenging growing season.