Early planted winter barley is starting to emerge and can be rowed in the field. Two nights of heavy frost this past week will shut down the corn plant and some acres will not mature. Maturity currently ranges from fully dented to yellow kernels. Premature drying is occurring due to rust and stalk rot. This will result in lighter bushel weight corn and lower than expected yields.
Stands are very uneven in most areas.
The silage harvest is progressing well with good field conditions. Farmers are selecting the later maturing fields for silage and leaving the more mature fields for grain where possible. Harvest is well under way. Frost has stopped all plant growth. Good weather this coming week will allow combines to continue harvesting and keep up with the crop as it matures.