When is it go time for you?

Super Steve · Nov 10, 2014

At what moisture do you go full boar on corn?

I went out to test out the combine today and get a sample to see what the moisture is at. Came in at 33.4%

It hasn't been ideal drying conditions here at all lately. Just hardly got beans done, even ended up with drying fees on them.

DeltaRed · Nov 10, 2014

when it tests 15.5

fixerupper · Nov 10, 2014

I don't know what the drying conditions are like in your area this time of year but I pull the trigger at 18 percent most years here in northwest Iowa but that's in October.

jm42 · Nov 10, 2014

I dry corn in the bin with just air, I go at it when it's 19 and under, that also depends on what time of the year it is.

coonie minnie · Nov 10, 2014

Where are you?

If it is under 30, we get started. Ideal for us is low 20s. Drier than that can mean more shelling on the head, more field loss from waiting, etc. Having to take out only 1.5 to 2 points can be challenging with a grain dryer, too- it is easy in those situations to get it too dry, and then you are losing bushels from being under weight.

We have our own dryer, and can dry MUCH cheaper than an elevator charges.

In my neighborhood, SE WI, waiting for market moisture means you are harvesting around Easter some, if not most, years. By then the deer and turkeys have taken more than what drying charges would be.

Dave H (MI) · Nov 10, 2014

Frankly? I don't have the slightest idea. I will be happy if I can just get out there and try to take some off the field and it goes well. But since you brought it up...I see moisture testers out there for sale from time to time. Could anyone recommend a good unit? Is there any such thing as a unit that can test hay and grain? At this point I will just be running it up to the elevator and having them check it.

IowaJohn · Nov 10, 2014

I'm 1/2 corn,1/2 soybeans, when the beans are done I go on corn right away, most years it's in the low 20's this year it was 16.5%.

paul · Nov 10, 2014

Well, 25%, but the calendar can influence that.

We had a year like that, started at 36% to get back to a bean field, beans weren't dry either that year..... Got the corn that year, 24% was a good load on the dry side....

Tough at $3 corn, might let it stand over winter if its strong corn....

Would be done here, ice, snow, and falling temps.......

Paul

Josh in Pa · Nov 12, 2014

I like mine to be 20. If you take 33% corn to the elevator, I am not sure they will take it, and the drying and probable dockage will make you sick. Half the crop probably. Depending in your climate I'd say wait till after Christmas.
Josh

Josh in Pa · Nov 12, 2014

Dave, if you hand shell some and take it to the elevator, expect the grain through the combine to be 2 percent wetter than your hand test. I have no idea why, but the combined grain is a little wetter. For your own moisture meter, a dickey john mini gac. Expensive. The john deere or case ih branded meters are half the price or less, but they are not reliable. I threw one out a few weeks ago, because it was so frustrating.
Josh

coonie minnie · Nov 12, 2014

As listed below, Dickey John makes a good unit, but get the one a seed dealer would have, not the oval one at Farm and Fleet. I have one of those, and it is terrible.

I DO have one from John Deere with the screw on top, and it has been very reliable and accurate. Is probably 10 plus years old. It does, however, give false readings above 25% or so. Most of what I use it for is calibrating the dryer, and it will be within .1 of a point with the local elevator.

It is also programmable for small grains, beans, etc.

Last bonus... the display cracked once. I sent it to the manufacturer (I think in Ohio) and for $50 plus postage one way, I got a new display and all new electronics. In today's throw away world, I thought that was pretty nice.

When is it go time for you?

Super Steve

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DeltaRed

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fixerupper

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jm42

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coonie minnie

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Dave H (MI)

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IowaJohn

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paul

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Josh in Pa

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Josh in Pa

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coonie minnie

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