Corn farmers are collecting their harvest as summer shifts to fall with some fields looking a little more brown than green. Have you ever wondered why some corn field are dried out prior to harvest. Farmers in Kansas rely on two different types of corn: sweet and field corn. The sweet varieties have already been harvested by this point, while field corn is mainly used for the production of ethanol and animal feed. The big difference between the two is higher amounts of sugar and starch in sweet and field corn, respectively. Drying it before harvest helps with the production process as grain elevators across the state have a preference for grain which is on the drier side. Wetter grain can result in cash penalties for farmers as it is harder to keep.
A reminder to drivers now that the harvest is underway. Many farmers are driving large vehicles and operating heavy machinery. Give all farm trucks and implements extra space on the road!
