Text Box: Latest Agronomy News Early Harvest Agronomy Report Text Box: Text Box: Agronomy Department Text Box: Spring is on its way! This month, I wanted to share some Agronomy 101. First, Root Health. One of the most important signs of plant health is the root condition. The other is how to calculate growing degree days. Roots and What They Mean Healthy corn roots are white, round and grow downward at a 35° angle from the start of the crown of the corn plant. Roots that are tan to gray and/or flat indicate roots that have hit a roadblock (soil compaction, sub layer, etc.). Often this means density problems. Your oldest crown roots are always the smallest in diameter. The first three sets of crown roots are the moneymakers. These crown roots tell you the conditions of the field during the first six collars of growth, when yield potential is determined through maximum kernel set. The third set of crown roots are the most important. These are the ones that go deep to get water and are the ones responsible to take the crop through July and August. The fourth and fifth sets of crown roots are massive, but they mainly anchor the plant. It is important to look at all aspects of root growth in order to get a complete picture of a plant’s health. Calculate Growing Degree Days To calculate growing degree days (GDD), first determine the mean temperature for the day. In order to do that, take the maximum and minimum temperatures for the day and add them together. Divide this by 2 and you will have the mean temperature. Then find the base temperature. The base temperature is the minimum temperature that lets an insect become active. This base temperature is then subtracted from the mean temperature to give a daily GDD. The base temperature for most (but not all) corn insects of concern is 50° F. If the daily GDD calculates to a negative number, it is made equal to zero. Each daily GDD is the added up (accumulated) throughout the growing season. I hope this information helps you in making your future Agronomy decisions. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Cal Jeanroy,  Sales & Marketing Manager Contact Me Text Box: FARMERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION Serving Area Farmers Since 1932