Combining grain maize

[Farmer Fin]

@Pebd99 how is the Maize looking?

 

[Pebd99]

@Pebd99 how is the Maize looking?

Think it’s coming at it. It’s starting to peel the corn off the centre of the cob easier so must be getting closer to being ready. Frost got it 2 weeks ago and turned all the leaves silver. Still seems to be maturing. Not sure what to expect.

 

[Against_the_grain]

Think it’s coming at it. It’s starting to peel the corn off the centre of the cob easier so must be getting closer to being ready. Frost got it 2 weeks ago and turned all the leaves silver. Still seems to be maturing. Not sure what to expect.

You need to look for black layer in the kernel. Split it open and near the bottom should be a black line. If you see this it means the grain is physiologically mature and won't put on any more yield. If not then potentially it can add a bit more yield but probably unlikely in your part of the world now anyway. Just get it cut though. Moisture content dry down is going to be non existent this time of year with the short and damp days.

 

[Flatlander]

You need to look for black layer in the kernel. Split it open and near the bottom should be a black line. If you see this it means the grain is physiologically mature and won't put on any more yield. If not then potentially it can add a bit more yield but probably unlikely in your part of the world now anyway. Just get it cut though. Moisture content dry down is going to be non existent this time of year with the short and damp days.

Also if it’s not going to be drying in the field and turns warming molds will start to become an issue. What is your expected yield and selling price ?

 

[Pebd99]

 

[young farmer nick]

pebd99: sorry but no chance that will combine. Especially if you say you've had frost and leaves turned silver. I looked on that heat unit mp and your in aberdeenshire scotland? What maturity corn did you plant?
I'm in a short season area in Ontario as far as good corn growing goes here, And 2019 had a late spring corn didn't quite make it to maturity but a lot closer than yours. In the fall it was 35-40% moisture and the bushel weight very low so sample grade not even grade 5. I left it out over winter and combined in march through april. Dried down to 17% in march and 14-15% in april and the test weight improved on most of it to grade 4 and 5. only one load still was sample grade.

You would need to plant the earliest corn available and use a good starter fertlizer, seem to help it mature quicker and better drydown and testweight.

 

[teslacoils]

I think they cut a small bit of grain maize here last week. Farmer will nibble a bit, dry it, then do some more. Did some in February I think last year and the combine travelled very well.

 

[Lowland1]

I saw some being harvested east of Lincoln last week. Still a shorter drilling to harvest time than Kenya.

 

[Flatlander]

That’s only ready to chop fir silage. Chop it before you loose your shirt on it. Your too far north to grow grain maize I’d think. that cob Wouldn’t thresh and it must be 5o% moisture. If your not in a position the chop it consider grazing it. I’ve nursed a dryer many nights drying maize and now prefer to grow a crop that’s off the field dry or very close even if there is less return per acre. Good on you for trying thou.

 

[Btexel]

View attachment 997797

Looks only just fit to forage unfortunately. If frost has it grain maize won’t happen as the plant is dead surely? Also short wet days from now onwards, get a forager booked.

 

[SRRC]

Did mine at the end of October, about 12t/ha @ 28%.
We mill it into a clamp and it's used in the pig wet feed system. It's especially valuable to us as it's a spring sown break crop that takes lots of slurry. Excellent break crop, always gives good wheat yields following. Downside is it's always a worry waiting for a weather window at this time of year, only grow it on the best ground in the best conditions, choose the earliest variety with the best standing index.

 

[Pilatus]

I am interested to know how combine ,returns/clean grain auger’s,elevator chain/rubbers ,grain tank bubble up auger, grain tank unloading augers cope with Maize grain being harvested for crimping.
I ask as damp peas cause enough grief!!!!
Damp maize sends alarm bells of to me.

 

[Flatlander]

it will combine surprisingly well. If the header is same as the ones here it’s only the cob and a small amount of stalk and very few leaves that go thru. 28% would be at the higher end of threshing. Concave set same as average stover diameter. Top sieve wide open. Remove bottom sieve. Wind maxed out. Only thing is some combines struggle to get cylinder down slow enough. 350 ish is a good start. It will go pretty quick is crimping and not having to combine for a day then dry for a day. Residue can be an issue but if you have the field fenced turn some animals out to clean it up. Canola after maize is a great crop.

 

[SRRC]

If you look in the user's manual for your combine you'll find all the settings for "corn", after all it's all many combines do!
Damp grain isn't what stops you, if the beard is damp it clings to everything and bungs sieves etc quickly. Snapper headers are vital as they take very little other than the cob into the combine.
A really good training course is YouTube! Search for "Millennial Farmer", they stop when there's snow on the crop but like a frost.

 

[idle git]

If you look in the user's manual for your combine you'll find all the settings for "corn", after all it's all many combines do!
Damp grain isn't what stops you, if the beard is damp it clings to everything and bungs sieves etc quickly. Snapper headers are vital as they take very little other than the cob into the combine.
A really good training course is YouTube! Search for "Millennial Farmer", they stop when there's snow on the crop but like a frost.

You only watch "M F" so you can boost your green blood cells!!!!!!
But yes it's a very useful way of learning how to grow a crop through to harvest

 

[Oscar]

As above but you need to keep an eye on or clean the trays under the concave (if it has one ) as they fill up with crud and can cause problems . On our lexion , I could remove,clean and refit in half hour max so was a daily job in damp or every few days if dry . In damp , we use to remove top sieve daily to clean , again half hour .The other thing we had to do was fit plates between the rasp bars on the concave (Claas) which is a tricky job as not much room under cab lying on the APS cylinder . You have to remove them after maize also before the next harvest .
Think Claas went to solid concave around 2010.
After finishing maize , you really need to give combine a real good clean as dust and the hairy beards will stick even if not too damp but all the paddles on the grain elevators etc will have build up on . Things will rust if you don t remove . I use to do a real good clean out straight after, remove all access doors etc but then leave in a shed for a while( week or so) and then outside run combine up again ( including unloading elevator) and surprising how much stuff will dry out and vibrate off . Repeat every few weeks.

 

[SRRC]

You mention the concave, I'd forgotten that most standard concaves aren't man enough as the wires will get damaged, I fitted a heavy duty Nichols and never had another problem.

 

[Oscar]

I think the plates prevented cobs from going through the concave un threshed and force them under the concave . However your right , we fitted different grates under the concave which were stronger and wider gaps.

 

[SRRC]

I'm unlikely to grow maize again so if anyone wants a tidy 4 row Accord precision drill and a 6 row snapper header for a 2200 series JD they are available

 

[Pilatus]