The corn harvest: 5 lessons learned from 2025
- Mathieu Phaneuf
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
The year 2025 was not an easy one. Delayed planting, severe drought during the summer, late harvest, a frost that never came, and finally, a lot of snow that literally fell on our heads. In short, it was another year that will undoubtedly remain in the memories of many for years to come.
All these climatic factors influenced the 2025 harvest. Overall, fall wheat was very good, spring wheat and soybeans were average, and corn ranged from poor to very good depending on the region.
What stands out from the comments I gathered is disappointment with the performance of soybeans. It is understood that this crop is not very resistant to drought. Against all odds, producers were pleasantly surprised by corn yields. Compared to soybeans, this crop is very resilient. However, where yields were good, grain moisture was very high (28 to 32%).
As you know, the entire harvesting, drying, and storing process is directly influenced by the growing season. The 2025 season was very different from previous ones and allowed us to observe new behaviors at our customers' facilities.
In this article, we present 5 lessons learned from the 2025 season. These lessons, which are essential for maximizing the value of your harvest, will enable you to get more out of your installations in the years to come.
Field corn observations
Where corn plants died in the field:
Small, dry grain (approximately 22% moisture).
Very low yield.
Where corn plants survived the drought:
The first planted crops were harvested at 24-26% moisture content.
Grain generally very moist (approximately 28-32%).
Test weight varied from 64-68 kg/hl.
Damaged grain, presence of cobs and bran more abundant than normal.
Overall:
No fatal frost before November in most regions.
Soil was fairly solid and dry at the start of the season.
Snow arrived in early November.
No thaw to melt the snow (as of November 25).
Lesson #1: Mix your grain to better control your dryer
When you consult your dryer's drying chart, you will find references for setting your dryer: grain type, humidity at the inlet, target humidity at the outlet, plenum temperature, drying speed, etc.
You may have already noticed that when the harvest is uniform in the field, your dryer is very stable. In fact, it is under these conditions that it is best to control your dryer manually.
However, when grain quality and moisture vary in the field, it is preferable to control your dryer with an advanced management system. This is also when it is preferable to mix your grains.
Why is that? First, because you will avoid moisture transitions at the dryer inlet. Otherwise, with each change, you will have to adjust the throughput speed, as indicated in your drying chart.
Second, the wetter grain will dry faster than the dry grain and end up at roughly the same moisture content. The results speak for themselves!
This was demonstrated this fall at the Normand Jodoin Inc. grain center. Thanks to his facilities, Stéphane Jodoin is able to separate his grain into different wet bins, then mix it like a good shepherd's pie (steak, corn, potatoes). The result: relatively uniform grain moisture content at the start of the process for stable and uniform drying.
Lesson #2: Slow drying results in more uniform drying
In 2024, corn moisture at harvest was very low. This was unprecedented in Quebec! It fluctuated between 21-23%, ending up at 16-18% at the very end of the harvest.
Observations in 2024 at Ferme Normand Jodoin Inc. :
Moisture at entry: 22%
Target moisture: 15%
Moisture to be removed: 7%
Moisture tests performed using the AM5200-A showed that the moisture content at the dryer outlet was highly variable. This means that for the same sample, if you repeat a moisture test, you will get a different result. This is normal, because each corn kernel does not have the same shape, the same moisture content, and does not pass through the same place in the dryer. These tests showed that it was possible to obtain results with a maximum deviation of up to 1.2%. Hence the importance of performing several tests on the same sample before calibrating your moisture probe on your dryer.
Variability in moisture test results: 0.7 to 1.2%.
Observation in 2025 at Ferme Normand Jodoin Inc. :
In 2025, corn moisture at harvest was very high, generally around 28%.
Moisture at entry: 28%
Target moisture: 15%
Moisture to be removed: 13%
The grain was almost twice as wet as in 2024. The time it took for the grain to pass through the dryer was much longer in 2025. As a result, it is likely that the drying was also more uniform. The temperature had more time to reach the core of each grain, extracting the moisture from the center.
Variability in moisture test results: 0.2 to 0.5%
Lesson #3: Moisture content hidden by broken kernels
The start of the drying season was marked by very moist corn (around 30%). It is important to note that the higher the corn moisture, the more damage it will suffer from the combine. When passed through the dryer, an aggressive drying strategy will burst the damaged grain. This results in a higher percentage of broken grain.
At the beginning of the drying season, the amount of broken grain was higher than normal. This led to a rather interesting observation: the effect of moisture dilution by the mass of broken grain.
Since broken grain is smaller and “open,” it is obviously drier. So let's say your sample contains 10% broken grain, its moisture content is 5.3%, and your grain's moisture content is 14.9%. In reality, your test result will be 14.0%. This is simply because the amount of broken grains will mask the actual moisture content of your grain.
Calculations:
250 grams of grain x 14.9% -> 37.25% water
275 grams of grain x 14% -> 38.5% water
Of course, the exceptional effect of having such a high percentage of broken kernels (around 10%) made it possible to observe this phenomenon. However, after repeating the experiment throughout the season, we observed a significant influence, generally 0.5%, of broken kernels on grain moisture measurements.
Why is this so important?
As you know, broken grain will concentrate in the center of your silo. Once the core of the bin is removed, you will be left with nice round grain, with a much lower loss rate. It is not uncommon to have a rate of 7-10% broken grain at the beginning of the bin emptying process, then 2-4% for the rest of the bin.
So if you don't pay attention to this, you may end up with grain that is slightly more moist than expected. Stay alert!
Lesson #4: Variable test weight, variable moisture reading
Did you know? Test weight affects the moisture reading of probes on grain dryers, just like on your combine harvesters. In fact, it's exactly the same technology.
When you calibrate your moisture sensor on your combine, you must follow a specific protocol to determine the test weight of your grain. Once calibrated, your reading will be very accurate compared to what your moisture tester gives you, until the test weight changes. If your field is variable, the reliability of your probe will be just as variable.
If the quality of your grain varies and its density changes, it is very likely that the reliability of your dryer's sensor will be just as variable. So if you find that your sensor is constantly shifting, it is most likely not the sensor that is the problem, but your grain.
So what should you do?
Take notes!
Year, month, date, time
Grain parameters: temperature, humidity, test weight
Dryer parameters: drying speed, plenum temperature
Etc.
Keeping track of your dryer is key. And yes, it can be a tedious task, especially if you're using the good old pen and paper method. Fortunately, technology is here to help.
A platform to simplify your life
A single portal to track your handling, dryer, and ventilation! For several years, agrilog has been pushing the boundaries of grain center automation. By connecting all your equipment to the agrilog platform, you can increase your productivity, such as by automating the recording of drying conditions and calibrating of moisture probes.
To learn more, visit our Drylog page.
Lesson #5: Be approximately correct to avoid making mistakes
Think about it: you need to avoid extremes and control your average. If the moisture content at the dryer inlet fluctuates, and the dryer control and the accuracy of your probe also fluctuate, the elastic effect created will cause drying spikes that will give you trouble during storage and delivery of your grain. For example: grain that is too dry with a lot of broken kernels, grain that is too moist and prone to heating, trucks returned due to excessive moisture—all problems caused by poor drying control.
On the other hand:
If you standardize your moisture content at the inlet, your dryer will be stable.
If the output from the dryer fluctuates slightly, the average moisture content of the silo will be accurate.
If you calibrate your sensor based on averages of multiple moisture tests, your readings will be reliable.
If you aerate your grain properly, you will equalize the moisture content of your grain in your storage bins.
Conclusion
Every year, harvest season brings its share of challenges. 2025 was marked by delays in planting, a summer drought in several regions of Quebec, and a season hit hard by snow and cold weather. Although some regions experienced very disappointing yields, many got off with a little scare instead of actual damage.
Nevertheless, we have learned lessons that will allow us to improve our drying techniques. Thinking outside the box allows us to see things differently, and to observe phenomena that change the behavior of the dryer or influence moisture readings.
The key points to remember are:
Harvest earlier rather than later to avoid being caught by winter.
Homogenize the moisture content of your grain before drying for more uniform drying.
Drying corn slowly promotes uniform grain moisture content.
Check that the grain is clean when testing moisture levels.
Monitor your dryer to better understand how it works, adjust it properly, and achieve accurate and uniform drying.
As the season draws to a close, it's time to start thinking about spring and the coming year.
See you soon,
Mathieu Phaneuf
President and Founder agrilog
