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Hard freeze adds more challenges to an already tough year

An agronomist says there are a lot of farmers nervous in the Upper Midwest and Plains ahead of this weekend’s predicted freeze event.

Iowa-based Sue Eivins Brakhane, a technical agronomist for Dekalb Asgrow, says if this hard freeze hits before the corn crop hits black layer – it could create even more challenges for growers this year.  “If we’re not at black layer it could really cause some havoc with the crop and how it dries down,” she says.  “It will dry a little chewy grain where it doesn’t solidify as much and in turn, it doesn’t dry down correctly in a bin form a storage perspective.  So you have to really be careful in how you handle it.”

She tells Brownfield beans in her area are in a much better position to handle this cold snap.  “Most of even our late beans in this market area that were planted in the June to mid-June time frame, are actually turning and dropping leaves right now,” she says.  “They’re pretty well pod-filled and finished.  They’re just starting to look ugly as insects came in late.”

A major winter freeze is expected for much of the Plains and Upper Midwest while a winter-type storm continues to hit the Dakotas.

AUDIO: Sue Eivins Brakehane, Dekalb/Asgrow