Agronomic News

Excessive Heat and Humidity Not Ideal for Corn It is commonly perceived that hot humid weather is ideal for corn because corn is a tropical crop.  Up to a point, that perception is correct.  Daytime temperatures up to 86 degrees are beneficial to corn plant photosynthesis and, when corn plants have adequate soil water and high humidity air, the leaf openings are more likely to stay open and facilitate photosynthetic fixation.  However, there are several negatives that are associated with excessive heat and humidity during the grain filling period: Leaf diseases are more likely to spread in high humidity situations. The corn plant has lower net photosynthetic energy production The grain fill is shortened between flowering and maturity. Ear rots are much higher during high humidity Nitrogen loss can be excessive during high rainfall and high humidity periods Prolonged wet soil conditions have resulted in shallow root systems, and will be subject to lodging. High kernel set does not guarantee high yields. Just because we have avoided drought in 2010 does not guarantee above average yields.  Too much heat and too much humidity can be tough on corn as well as people.  Most "experts" predict a 25 to 35 bu. shortfall from last years corn crop.  It is during stress situations where good fertility pays the biggest dividend!  Get next years crop off to a good start by applying adequate amounts of fertilizer this fall.  Contact Mike at 217-502-4044 for information and prices.

Optimum Nitrogen Management Corn-on-corn typically requires higher nitrogen fertilizer rates.  30 to 50 additional pounds/acre are a general rule of thumb.   Multiple forms of nitrogen, at different times, is also optimal.   An early fall application of nitrogen will also enhance the residue breakdown of corn stalks.  The addition of 25 to 30# of sulfur has shown consistant yield increases.        A fall application of AMS 5-0-0-3 accomplishes all of the above.  Contact Mike at 217-502-4044 for prices and information.

A Virtuous Industry "There seems to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth.  The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbors.  This is robbery.  The second by commerce, which is generally cheating.  The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry." - Benjamin Franklin