Dale Siebert, NDSU Extension agent/cropping system, reported Friday that in southeast North Dakota corn is still 171 growing degrees days behind the five-year average at the Wyndmere, N.D., weather station.

"We have been one GDD per day less than the average for the season," Siebert says. "If this trend continues in September we would end up with about 2,150 GDD for the season at Wyndmere."

Early-maturing corn (95-days or less) would reach maturity by the end of September, but 95- to 100-day hybrids require 2,300 GGD or more.

Corn that reaches maturity - which is 35% moisture - still has to dry down.

Last year, it took another 200 GGD to dry corn from 35% to 20% moisture, when harvest normally begins, Siebert says.