July is the critical month for corn in most years. This year likely won’t be any exception. Dave Nanda, crops consultant with Seed Consultants Inc., sponsor of the Crop Watch ’16 project, says how yield in the Crop Watch field turns out will depend upon weather through the rest of the season.

Weather was mostly favorable during pollination. At least 90% of the Crop Watch corn pollinated in early July. Corn from a second planting done to fill in weak stands in a few spots pollinated in late July. However, the field received above-average rainfall in July. Pollination occurred with plenty of soil moisture present.

MAKE YOUR ESTIMATE NOW: Figure out what you think the Crop Watch ’16 field will yield and submit your entry. Read the story for clues.

Temperatures were average when the earlier corn pollinated. Then conditions heated up, with the heat index over 100 degrees F for a few days in late July when the late-planted corn pollinated. However, ample moisture likely offset at least part of the effects of higher temperatures, Nanda observes.

Win free seed

Seed Consultants Inc. will provide valuable seed prizes to the winners of the Crop Watch yield contest. They include eight bags of seed corn for 2017 for first place, six bags for second place and four bags to the third-place finisher. Winning entries will be determined by which guess is closest to actual yield.

The field is about 20 acres and includes primarily somewhat poorly drained Crosby soil, with some darker, wetter Brookston soils and some sloping, well-drained Miami soils. Record your entry as dry bushels (15.5%) per acre. Estimate yield to the nearest tenth of a bushel.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A purchase does not improve your chances of winning.  Contest open to legal residents of fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 or older.  To enter, send your guess of the final Crop Watch yield to Indiana Prairie Farmer, P.O. Box 247, Franklin, IN 46131, or enter by email at [email protected]. All entries must be received by Sept. 15, 2016.  Winner is entrant closest to final yield for the Crop Watch field.  Void outside of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia and where prohibited by law.  To obtain Full Rules, visit farmprogress.com/cropwatchcontest.