Archived Corn-Grain Situational Statements
The latest NASS report shows 94 percent of the corn crop has been harvested. With the favorable weather forecast for the next six to seven days, the majority of the remaining crop should be harvested. (11-03-09)
Corn growers made three percent harvest progress early last week. NASS is estimating 92 percent of corn is now harvested. (10-26-2009)
Mississippi's planted corn acreage this season is 800,000. Abundant rainfall beginning in August extended through the current date has delayed corn harvest and will increase losses during harvest more than normal. Rainfall has been particularly frequent and abundant since about September 10. An estimated 70 to 75 percent (NASS) of the corn crop was harvested prior to September 10 with little loss or grain quality problems. There has only been about 10 percent harvest progress since September 10. The remaining corn crop is primarily in the northern part of the state, particularly in the hills. Many areas in north and northeast Mississippi have well over 50 percent of their corn crop still in the field.
Corn remaining in the field has tolerated adverse weather better than mature soybeans and cotton, but will experience substantial losses, particularly if rains continue. Harvest reports during the last week of September indicated fair corn grain quality with few deductions at elevators. In other words, the corn was holding up relatively well. However, there has been very little progress since, until yesterday. The corn harvested from this date on will likely have 10 to 20 percent yield/harvest loss, some likely higher. These losses accumulate when corn stalk lodge or fall down from storms. Kernel sprouting is also also increasing when lodging occurs and rainfall is prevalent, thus discounts for grain quality are likely to mount. Hopefully, little corn will be abandoned, except where floodwater has inundated low areas, but extended dry weather (several weeks) will be necessary to finish corn harvest.
Mississippi's sorghum acreage is 13,000 this season. About 50 percent was harvested prior to mid-September. The remaining crop will likely be abandoned or salvaged due to excessive kernel sprouting. This damaged kernels, lowering grain quality below all U.S commercial standards for grain sorghum. (10-20-09)