What should I do with a cereal crop that has a lot of green second growth in late August or early September? In these situations you often have the original crop with heads that are close to maturity and tillers that are grass green with either nothing in them or some kernel development. In most cases the best strategy is to ignore the late developing tillers and make harvest management decisions based on the original crop. Essentially, you want to minimize any kernel development in the late tillers so that you do not end up with immature green kernels that can affect your grade. In these situations you often have the original crop with heads that are close to maturity and tillers that are grass green with either nothing in them or some kernel development. In most cases the best strategy is to ignore the late developing tillers and make harvest management decisions based on the original crop. Essentially, you want to minimize any kernel development in the late tillers so that you do not end up with immature green kernels that can affect your grade.
If you swath then you need to plan to swath the crop as soon as the original heads are at the correct stage (kernel moisture of 35% or less) and before there is any amount of kernel development in the late tillers. If you straight cut you will need to stop the development of the tillers and this would involve using preharvest glyphosate as soon as the original crop is at the correct stage (kernel moisture of less than 30%). Remember if you use glyphosate the harvested grain cannot be used for seed. If you swath then you need to plan to swath the crop as soon as the original heads are at the correct stage (kernel moisture of 35% or less) and before there is any amount of kernel development in the late tillers. If you straight cut you will need to stop the development of the tillers and this would involve using preharvest glyphosate as soon as the original crop is at the correct stage (kernel moisture of less than 30%). Remember if you use glyphosate the harvested grain cannot be used for seed.
If you harvest based on the original crop, is there a yield loss? If you harvest based on the original crop, is there a yield loss?
There are times people hope they can leave the crop long enough to let the tillers mature and then harvest. To put this in perspective barley will take about 400 growing degree days (GDD) (Using a 0 degree celsius base) to go from the milk stage to physiological maturity (35% kernel moisture). This means you would need a minimum of 27 days and then the grain still has to dry down from there. To get the average date for frost in your area check out this site: Freezing Date Probabilities There are times people hope they can leave the crop long enough to let the tillers mature and then harvest. To put this in perspective barley will take about 400 growing degree days (GDD) (Using a 0 degree celsius base) to go from the milk stage to physiological maturity (35% kernel Moisture). This means you would need a minimum of 27 days and then the grain still has to Dry down from there. To Get the average date for frost in your area Check out this site: Freezing Date Probabilities
Remember that by delaying harvest you also risk affecting the grade of your crop. The harvested crop may have high levels of green kernels that result in downgrading. For a number 1 CWRS you are only allowed 0.75% grass green kernels. To get more information on grading standards you can go to: Remember that by delaying harvest you also risk affecting the grade of your crop. The harvested crop may have high levels of green kernels that result in downgrading. For a number 1 CWRS you are only allowed 0.75% grass green kernels. To get more information on grading standards you can go to: Grain Grading Guide . Grain Grading Guide .
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