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Using Seed Moisture as a Harvest Management Tool

Thomas Silberstein, M. Mellbye, Thomas Chastain and, William Young III (November, 2010)

Summary

Seed moisture content is the most reliable indicator of seed maturity and harvest timing ingrass seed crops. There are two significant times during harvest that knowledge of seed moisture is critical: at swathing and at combining. Swathing within the correct range of seed moisture content will maximize seed yield and minimize seed losses during harvest. Taking an accurate measurement of seed moisture content is a key component of economic grass seed crop management.