These border rows should be harvested separately and used as feed. Avoid cloddy soils with heavy residue and poor furrow closure conditions. Conventional and minimum till methods may provide for more even plant emergence than no-till. Planting early helps extend the grain filling period and reduces the likelihood of stress during pollination. While not essential in most of Illinois, starter fertilizer can promote uniform plant emergence for good pollination.
Scout fields regularly for potential pests.
Combine and keep border rows separate for use as feed. Low-temperature drying is recommended for increased storability due to low breakage, less fines, improved aeration, and less opportunity for fungal growth. Grain kernel temperature should be kept below 140 F during the entire drying process to minimize undesirable quality losses. Field drying is best and allows the kernel to reach full-maturity. Keep augers full when running and consider replacing pulleys to reduce auger speed and maintain grain quality.