Field Crop Update August 7, 2026

Still seeing some corn just beginning to tassel, while the earliest acres tasseled nearly 3 weeks ago- so we're about halfway through the flowering season for corn. This should give us a nice, broad corn silage harvest window. See the Growing Degree Days section for a reminder of how we use tasseling dates to predict silage harvest. Crops are looking good, taking advantage of the recent warm weather and rainfall. 

Soybeans are filling out nicely, as they are also taking advantage of the moisture and heat. As long as we keep getting periodic rainfall, that will help suppress aphid and thrips pressure. BUT you may begin to see the effects of white mold if you have it. And please get in touch if you know you have either tall waterhemp or Palmer amaranth! We have several studies coming up in the next few years to investigate long-term management strategies, and we (a) need to know just how broadly these invasives have spread (which counties), and (b) are looking for farmer collaborators to host field trials. And of course, I'm always looking for ANY herbicide resistant weed populations so we can continue to keep tabs on their spread and keep up with every new mode of action that is no longer effective.

From the desk of Mike Stanyard, CCE Field Crops Specialist, Northwest NY:

NY Corn and Soybean Yield Contest Deadline is August 15-

The contests are sponsored by the NY Corn and Soybean Growers Association. Entries are due by August 15 and can be found here.

NY growers also have an option to enter in the National Corn Yield Contest. Deadline is August 12 and you can enter here. You can enter your national contest final yield entry into the NY corn contest but only if you enter both contests.

The New York Ag Showcase will be held on August 12 and 13 at Rodman Lott & Sons in Seneca Falls (separate registrations):

Day 1, August 12. This event highlights corn and soybean production across New York with timely, relevant topics shaped by grower leaders. Expect practical takeaways you can bring back to your operation, along with opportunities to connect with industry partners and fellow growers. Sponsors will have equipment and displays onsite throughout the event, giving you the chance to see products up close, ask questions, and explore solutions that fit your operation. For the full agenda and registration visit their event site here.

Day 2, August 13. This event highlights soil health practices, current research, outdoor field demonstrations, and practical on‑farm applications. It offers farmers and ag professionals the opportunity to explore strategies that improve soil function, sustainability, and long‑term productivity. Attendees will also enjoy a BBQ lunch from Mooney’s BBQ, adding great food to a day filled with top‑tier learning and practical insights. 

CCA and NYS DEC pesticide applicator credits will be available here.

Provided by Jessica Spaccio, Climatologist for the Cornell Northeast Regional Climate Center.

We're in for a cool, wet week:

Potato leafhoppers were nearly all under threshold - the only two above threshold look ready for harvest. Remember that if you're within 7-10 days of your expected harvest and your PLH are above threshold, harvesting asap is more economical than spraying!

See: Climate Smart Farming Growing Degree Day Calculator

Growing degree days (GDD) are calculated by taking the average daily temperature and subtracting the base temperature for development of a given organism ((High + Low)/2 – base temp = GDD).

For corn, we use base 50/86, as corn development starts at 50 degrees F and ceases above 86F. Check your location and planting date for grain GDD.

For silage, we track GDD from silking. Silking in our region began mid-July and is continuing through the first half of August. Your crop may have tasseled on or more closely to one of these dates. So while our GDD tables can get you in the ballpark, check your own whole-plant DM to make sure you’re ready, and not ahead/behind schedule!

Remember: Silage corn needs 750-800 GDD (depending on hybrid maturity) after silking to reach a whole plant DM of 32%. Under typical late season dry down conditions we can expect the crop to reach 35% DM four to seven days later. We can expect to accumulate 15-25 GDD per day, or even up to 30, so peak maturity can creep up on us quickly. But no matter what the numbers say, always check your crop to see how close you may be to harvest. For more details, see this article.