Late-maturing corn will be the focus of a workshop Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m. to noon at NDSU's North Central Research Extension Center near Minot, N.D. Lunch will follow.
“Corn is a crop that requires warm temperatures to grow and develop normally,” said Eric Eriksmoen, a research agronomist at the center. “Due to a season of cool, wet weather conditions, farmers are facing a very real possibility of harvesting corn that may not be fully mature. This may result in the need for additional drying prior to storage.”
The workshop is designed to help producers prepare for the conditions. It will include presentations on corn production, harvest, marketing and a demonstration on the use of drones to assist producers with crop production.
The miniature aircraft can be equipped with various sensors that give instantaneous live images of production-related problems such as disease outbreaks, weed infestations and nutrient deficiencies. In the near future, producers will be able to get an instantaneous aerial view of their crop, allowing more efficient management decisions based on what the sensors tell them.
"This technology is still in its infancy, but the implications are very exciting," Eriksmoen said.
Workshop presenters include Frayne Olson, NDSU Extension Service crops economist and marketing specialist; Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension agricultural engineer; Mitchell Fiene, DMZ Aerial; and Robert Klein, Extension cropping systems specialist at the University of Nebraska, who will discuss production issues including row spacing and plant populations.
The North Dakota Corn Growers Association is co-sponsoring the workshop. There is no charge for the workshop.
For additional information, contact the North Central Research Extension Center at 701-857-7677.
The center is one mile south of Minot on U.S. Highway 83.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.