First, I'm not a scientist, I'm a farm hand. I'm sure there are plenty of lab coats smarter than me, but I ain't seen none out in many cornfields.
That being said, in the few fields we have gotten into we have had no set productivity pattern. In our fields, which are extremely well taken care of, we have gone from no ears to big full ears of corn. The rain was super spotty and we are seeing that from field to field. In a few of the custom chopping we've done it is similar. We actually did one that was so bad you could've chopped it with a push mower, and that's not too much BS. It was so short the corn stalks wouldn't feed thru the head. We normally, running a 10 row head, keep 2 semis and 2 bobtail trucks running nonstop. We sent 1 of each back to the shop. The stalks had small cobs, 1/2" round X 3" long, with 0/noda/nothing for kernals!
Hunters, look for good stewarts of the land, that is where you will find your best crops of shootable/healthy birds. It maybe a drought, but even in the good years, it will be the AWESOME spots that will be carrying birds. Where the 10 mile walks for half a limit will turn into precursers for coronary.
Just some thoughts. Look for guys that have white and blue combine headers. These are stripper heads that leave the small grain stalks in the field intact, where as the normal head cuts them down. Gives cover, saves dog feet and retains more winter moisture. If your in the field look for that years crop, then look for what last years was. There shouldbe a crop rotation. That's not fool proof, I have to work ground in about 6 fields this year, but we absolutly hate working dirt. Loose water and gain weeds. Go by the local farm and ranch store and pickup a set of fence pliers, bag of post clips, and a pound of fence staples and put them in your truck. Let that farmer know your armed with said items and willing to check out the fences as you pass by. You'll get alot more yes's when you are willing to pound a nail or two. Pack a rifle with ya, go see your farmers after season and offer to shoot coyotes before calving season, that'll add the your "YES" pile too. Might pickup a deer hunting spot if you're not careful.
None of that is fool proof, but if you find a farmer that cares, and you act as you do, you will add to your access and your limits. I gotta go call a bobcat thats been working over the bosslady's poultry. Good luck :thumbsup:
That being said, in the few fields we have gotten into we have had no set productivity pattern. In our fields, which are extremely well taken care of, we have gone from no ears to big full ears of corn. The rain was super spotty and we are seeing that from field to field. In a few of the custom chopping we've done it is similar. We actually did one that was so bad you could've chopped it with a push mower, and that's not too much BS. It was so short the corn stalks wouldn't feed thru the head. We normally, running a 10 row head, keep 2 semis and 2 bobtail trucks running nonstop. We sent 1 of each back to the shop. The stalks had small cobs, 1/2" round X 3" long, with 0/noda/nothing for kernals!
Hunters, look for good stewarts of the land, that is where you will find your best crops of shootable/healthy birds. It maybe a drought, but even in the good years, it will be the AWESOME spots that will be carrying birds. Where the 10 mile walks for half a limit will turn into precursers for coronary.
Just some thoughts. Look for guys that have white and blue combine headers. These are stripper heads that leave the small grain stalks in the field intact, where as the normal head cuts them down. Gives cover, saves dog feet and retains more winter moisture. If your in the field look for that years crop, then look for what last years was. There shouldbe a crop rotation. That's not fool proof, I have to work ground in about 6 fields this year, but we absolutly hate working dirt. Loose water and gain weeds. Go by the local farm and ranch store and pickup a set of fence pliers, bag of post clips, and a pound of fence staples and put them in your truck. Let that farmer know your armed with said items and willing to check out the fences as you pass by. You'll get alot more yes's when you are willing to pound a nail or two. Pack a rifle with ya, go see your farmers after season and offer to shoot coyotes before calving season, that'll add the your "YES" pile too. Might pickup a deer hunting spot if you're not careful.
None of that is fool proof, but if you find a farmer that cares, and you act as you do, you will add to your access and your limits. I gotta go call a bobcat thats been working over the bosslady's poultry. Good luck :thumbsup:
