09.07 - The Seedsman
Corn Yields Increase Dramatically
AgVenture corn customers have been working on their PhD’s in high yield corn production over the past 3 years. Our Agronomists and Crop Planning Specialists have helped growers change their past views about growing corn by doing things differently. Each year more and more AgVenture customers prove to themselves they CAN break former yield barriers and produce yields far above their expectations. "We have so many customers reporting whole farm averages in excess of 200 bushels per acre and many more fields averaging from 240-250 bushels per acre," says David Walker, Director of Crop Planning for AgVenture Seed, Inverness, Mississippi.
"We are really proud of the way our customers followed our recommendations. Many of our guidelines seem so basic, but producing top yields is about doing small things right. For example, two of the most basic recommendations we stress to our customers are correct planting depth and speed. Those little things can be what get that extra 20-30 bushels per acre. Every grower who followed our recommendations had a significantly better crop than those who didn’t. We’ve shown our customers that they can produce some of the best corn in the country, and we intend to help them take it to an even higher level each year," says David. "Our goal is to get these guys averaging 300 bushels per acre." We’ve got the varieties, the growing season, and the know how. We just need to put it all together." "I believe that the small things are important to yield as well," says Wayne Dulaney, Lead Agronomist for AgVenture. "I scout more than 50,000 acres each season. I find that more than half of fields I scouted never yield to their potential. They didn’t yield to their potential because of problems that could have been solved at planting time. We work collaboratively with growers sharing knowledge, making recommendations, and developing Cropping plans to prevent these types of problems. That’s why growers appreciate and trust our expertise when it comes to helping them produce high yields, especially with corn that is a relatively new crop to many farmers."
Terry’s Corner
What an exciting harvest season it has been. Corn yields among our growers are much higher than they have ever seen before. Just 3 short years ago, farmers didn’t know who AgVenture Seed was, and now we are considered by many to be the corn experts of the Mid-South. Why? Because our message is simple. We start every corn grower with a plan. We call it the Cropping Plan. It is a unique method to help every customer make the right decisions for his own farm. After all, there is no secret to getting the kinds of high corn yields we are harvesting this year. Yields like that are achieved by doing the right things, and those right things are spelled out in the Cropping Plan. We develop Cropping Plans far in advance of the next season so we have plenty of time to get everything in place. The earlier you plan, the higher your yields will be. I hope all of you are getting your Cropping Plans in place right now. Have a save harvest season.
Did You Know?
Researchers believe they can double the number of gallons of ethanol produced from an acre of corn by including the corncob to produce cellulosic ethanol. A 25 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant is planned for construction next door to the existing ethanol plant at Emmetsburg, IA. It will process corncobs. The plant will be named, Project Liberty.
Agronomy Corner, Storing Grain
Covered grain piles are always preferred. Rain does not run off an uncovered grain pile. Free water will progressively wet corn to about 30% moisture as it moves down within a pile. So an uncovered grain pile that received rain will always have a layer of moldy corn on top. An inch of rain will change the top 6-8 inches of grain from 15% to 30% moisture.
It’s essential to physically inspect grain in storage at least every two weeks. A portable thermometer on a long rod can be used if the bin or pile sis not equipped with automated temperature monitoring. Increases in temperature from one inspection to the next with no fan operation during the period are warning signs of possible spoilage. Once stored grain has experienced condition problems, further problems are very likely. This should be the first grain moved. Also, if you have aeration in your bin or pile, use it.