As the 2014 corn crop heads down the “home stretch” toward physiological maturity and harvest, here are a few items you may want to add to your “honey do” list.

The curious phenomenon often referred to as the "twisted whorl syndrome" is beginning to show up in some fields in recent days. This "problem" often occurs when young corn shifts quickly from weeks of slow development (cool, cloudy weather) to rapid development (warm, sunny weather). Earlier planted corn has certainly experienced such a change in weather conditions in recent weeks. The occurrence of the twisted whorl syndrome is not uncommon, but rarely affects a large number of fields in any given year or a large percentage of plants within a field.

Nevertheless, folks who planted their corn later than normal are now beginning to worry whether their crop will mature safely before a killing fall freeze.

Recent early mornings with temperatures hovering in the upper 40s F and afternoon highs less than 80 F are certainly not synonymous with those we typically experience during these dog days of summer.

Recent intense rainfall events (technically referred to as “toad stranglers� or “goose drownders�) have caused flooding of low-lying corn fields or ponding (standing water) in poorly drained swales within fields. Other areas within fields, while not technically flooded or ponded, may remain saturated for lengthy periods of time.

Rapid, uniform germination and emergence of corn help set the stage for maximum grain yield at the end of the season. Without a successful start to the season, the crop is behind the proverbial "eight-ball" right from the beginning.