The decision on whether to harvest and mechanically dry grain, or leave it in the field to dry naturally, involves a lot of variables.
The most obvious cause of delayed-harvest yield loss is the mechanical losses that occur at the combine. As corn plants dry down, the plant begins to lose integrity, and the chance of dropped ears, combine ear loss, and kernel loss increases. Corn left on the ground at harvest is profit left on the table.
There is some research that suggests that corn dry matter decreases as it dries. This is known as phantom yield loss. While this is still not fully understood, our research focused on identifying the effect of delayed harvest on yield, no matter the cause. These trials show yield loss occurs when harvest is delayed at a rate of 2.0 bu/A for each point of moisture lost (figure 3). The longer a crop stays in the field after black layer, the higher the risk of yield loss from natural or mechanical causes. Some hybrids are at higher risk for harvest losses, so you should consult your Wyffels Seed Representative to help prioritize your harvest schedule.
