OMAHA (DTN) -- Mid-August, when corn hits the dough stage, is a good time to start to estimate yields. You can estimate yield yourself by counting plants, husking a few ears, counting rows and kernels and doing a quick calculation.

Under normal weather conditions, the dough stage occurs about four weeks after pollination and at least another six to eight weeks before harvest. This year, corn was planted in record time and mostly in April; and warmer-than-normal temperatures and higher-than-normal humidity has helped push corn along faster than normal.

Kernels at that stage have a pasty or doughy consistency and ...