Growing Season Ends in Northern Iowa, Wisconsin Corn

October 3, 2011

Freezing temperatures killed crops in scattered areas of the Upper Midwest the mornings of October 1 and 2.  Minimum temperatures dipped into the mid-upper 20s F in  scattered areas of northern Iowa and most of Wisconsin, and lasting several hours.  

This was not the first brush with frost in the Upper Midwest.   Unseasonable cold September 15 produced a frost- freeze in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and northern Iowa.   Read about potential soybean damage  at this link:  http://www.martellcropprojections.com/CropProductionReports/Worse-Conditions-in-Soybeans-Reflect-Freeze-Damage

Quality Loss,   Reduced Production

Freeze damage would be another blow to quality corn supplies.   Because carbohydrate storage in kernels was abruptly terminated,   there would a reduced kernel size lowering the yield.    Naturally, the further along kernel filling was,  the less the yield loss would be.   Iowa corn was already 80% ripe and “safe from frost” on September 25,   but Wisconsin corn was only 38% mature.

Freeze damaged corn may still be fed to livestock on the farm, but it requires special handling and rapidly goes out of condition.   It is prone to spoilage and requires frequent aeration.  It would not be acceptable for ethanol production, nor could it be sold for export.   

Last month, in the September report,  the USDA took down the  corn yield estimates in Iowa and Illinois by 9-10 bushels-per–acre,   slicing off 5.5% from 2011 US corn production.   A low quality harvest is another problem for corn supplies to be used for ethanol and exports.

The United States used to dominate global corn export business, but has lost market share in the 2000s.   A sharp increase  in corn usage for enthanol  the past decade has shrunk supplies available for export.   The USDA predicts,  based on current trends,  United States corn exports may be less than combined exports from competitors in 2011-12.