Optimizing Continuous Corn Yields

Strategies to Help You Capitalize Upon Corn-on-Corn Acres

Rising demand and higher corn prices have spurred many growers to increase their corn production. If your planting strategy calls for continuous corn, you need to tend to your fields to maximize your yields. Post-harvest and pre-planting field work, applications and proper hybrid selections will help you overcome the challenges facing corn-on-corn acres.

If you choose to plant continuous corn, Stine Seed recommends you perform some type of tillage to break up stalks and help decompose residue in the soil. It is also helpful to bump planting populations, relative to your regular rates, to combat any potential emergence issues. Although no-till is not entirely out of the question, if done wrong, corn may struggle to overcome field compaction and, as a result, yields will suffer.

A nitrogen management program is critical for optimal yields. Stine Seed’s agronomists recommend that you apply nitrogen in two passes. Ideally, you should apply half of your nitrogen in the fall and half in the spring. If wet weather prevents fall field applications, you can apply the first treatment in early April and the second application in May, in conjunction with your weed control products.

Choosing the Right Hybrid

Hybrids that have deep roots, strong stalks, quick emergence and above-average disease resistance are best suited for corn-on-corn acres. Stine 9731VT3PRO, 9806VT3PRO and 9528VT3PRO are excellent hybrids for continuous corn fields and Stine Seed recommends that you mix up the genetic package used each year to prevent disease build-up in the soil.

Corn-on-corn hybrids should have a very strong disease resistance package and ideally be traited to  combat root worm and European corn borer. You should also consider fungicide applications to prevent against gray leaf spot that runs rampant in warm, humid weather conditions.

Timing is Everything

Timing plays an important role in continuous corn production. Due to the amount of residue covering the soil, corn-on-soybean acres should be planted before corn-on-corn acres to give the ground a chance to warm up. Corn requires a minimum ground temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and should be planted 1.5 – 2.0 inches deep.

Stine Seed recommends that you plant a range of maturities, based on your region, to reduce risk. If you plant corn-on-corn acres, you should plant 50 percent of your acres in the middle of your range, with 25 percent maturing a few days earlier and 25 percent maturing a few days later. (e.g., if your zone has a 106–110 day range, 25 percent of your acres should be 104–105 day, 50 percent should be 106–110 day and the remaining 25 percent should fall in the 111–113 day range.)

Trade Up to Stine Seed

Stine Seed is a world-class breeder and developer of corn genetics. Growers have come to trust and rely upon Stine Seed to provide them with unique, high-yielding corn hybrids. To learn why more growers are trading up to Stine Seed, visit www.stineseed.com.