Storms pose a significant threat as corn reaches maturity.

University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says strong winds, hail and heavy rains can compromise stalk integrity.

“We have a lot of re-mobilization in terms of that final kernel fill. A lot of our crop hits dented and moves into black layer. So once we hit black layer, the nutrients and carbohydrates are within the kernel of corn, and then just dry-down.”

He tells Brownfield as the plant cannibalizes itself, the genetics of the hybrid also factor in.

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