Thursday, September 4, 2014

Lodging is occurring.  And I don’t mean the Holiday Inn kind.  Lodging refers to soybeans or corn that is not standing perfectly erect.  Since our big rainstorm on Monday morning, the soybeans are showing signs of ‘lodging’, or leaning over.  No, they’re not flat, but not perfectly straight, either.  The ripening mass of plants can get more dense as they lean over, making the process of drying out and maturing a little slower… the sun cannot penetrate the canopy of vegetation quite as easily.  It’s not a severe problem…at least not yet… and barring some big hail or windstorm, the lodging should not get worse.

Our corn shows no sign of lodging.

As the fog burns off this morning, you can see the beginning effects of lodging.

Look closely and you can see some of the bean stalks leaning over. Maybe they’re just loaded down with pods?!