GDDs May 16, 2021
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist/Team Leader
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Growing degree days (GDD) are calculated by taking the average daily temperature and subtracting the base temperature for development of a given organism ((High + Low)/2 - base temp = GDD).
This spring, we are tracking GDD for general grass development (base 32) and alfalfa development (base 41) across our region as a way of monitoring the weather conditions that promote or inhibit growth (soon we will begin tracking GDD for corn silage). Always visually check forage development to assess harvestability.
As expected, the clear skies allowed temps to soar above forecast highs last week, pushing our GDD totals back toward the "normal" trajectory. This week we're likely to see more of the same, but clouds may creep in toward the end of the week before giving way to some weekend thundershowers.
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