ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

Stine^® 9714 brand corn is making waves in the industry as a leader in the short-stature corn game. As one of our Yield+ advantage corn lines, Stine 9714-G is already one of our top-performing products as evidenced by its performance in our Elite Yield Trials. In fact, in the trial average, it produces a $66.80 per acre yield advantage.

But 9714’s proven performance doesn’t stop with our yield trials. Here’s what customers are saying about the product in their operations:

Yield+ Corn Tour testimonials

Bob Manning, Waukee, Iowa, 9714-G
Customer Bob Manning has relied on the powerful genetics of Stine 9714-G brand corn for years. As a primarily corn-on-corn operation, he appreciates 9714's shorter stature and ability to thrive under Iowa’s cooler spring conditions. At 107-days relative maturity, Stine 9714 is a great option for growers who want to plant early.

“9714 … it’s a racehorse. And what that hybrid has — I call it vigor — it will blow out of the ground. I mean, I don’t care how cold it is. I get a little carried away sometimes and start planting a little early. You know, I might plant 5th of April, 10th of April, when it’s not really all that warm, but I have found that if I think it’s a little cool yet, that’s the hybrid I want to be planting early … I’m not the corn scientist like a lot of people are, but the cold germ on 9714 is tremendous. I mean every single plant grows no matter how cold that ground is. You can put it on 45-degree ground, and it will blow out of the ground like it’s 60 degrees.”

Another advantage of Stine 9714-G brand corn that Bob appreciates — as a shorter-stature hybrid, it has great standability and less biomass.  

“I want something shorter so the wind doesn’t blow it down. I think that’s a big part of that smaller corn … and with residue management when you’re corn on corn, I don’t want a lot of stalks. I want that shorter stalk to get rid of that residue.”

And as Bob would say, to achieve top-end yields, “It comes down to hybrid selection.” Learn more about Bob’s experience with 9714-G and other Stine products in his visit with Myron Stine.

Daron Judd, Lostant, Illinois, 9714-0
For Illinois grower Daron Judd, Stine 9714-0 comes to mind right away when asked about his favorite corn product. At 107-days relative maturity, 9714-0 is the earliest corn he plants on his farm.

“We like to get started with that [9714-0]; that way come fall, we can get going combining a little bit early. … What we found with 9714 is that even though it’s a 107-day corn, we’ve actually had years, not just year, YEARS where it has yielded just as good as our 114-day corn.”

Daron’s yield goal is 300+ bushels/acre each year, and he achieves that by pushing populations, something he’s able to do with Stine 9714-0. “It seems to handle the high populations very well.” 

Residue management is important for Daron in years when he plants corn on corn.

“It is shorter in stature, which we like — less biomass … We get in, we’re able to manage the residue easier with your shorter stature corn.”

He also adds, “It just seems to respond well to fungicide, and we’re a firm believer in that on the farm. 9714 is definitely one of our favorites.”

Check out Daron’s full interview with Myron Stine on the Stine Seedcast.

Other advantages

Stine 9714 brand corn comes both as conventional (9714-0) and glyphosate-tolerant (9714-G). It’s 105-107-day relative maturity and performs best at average to higher planting populations. It’s a workhorse that works hard for growers all season long.

For more information on Stine 9714 brand corn, contact your local sales rep.

Late-planted corn and soybeans are a concern for many growers across the U.S., especially for those in the northern Corn Belt — from Michigan to the Dakotas — as cool temperatures and rainfall persist. Even regions as far south as Kentucky have been affected by pendular weather keeping them out of the fields. For corn growers who have been unable to get their crops in the ground, not all hope is lost to save yield. But fertility management will be key to homing in on the full genetic potential of the seed.

Fertility management
When you lose growing degree days, high-yield potential can be affected, but proper fertility management can help. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach says, “The placement of small amounts of plant nutrients in bands offset to the side and below the seed row or in the seed furrow increases the concentration of nutrients near seedling roots.”

If growers are not equipped to put a starter down, there are alternative ways to incorporate nutrients into your planned fertilizer program.  

“Some growers may not have fertilized yet this year because of high input prices and weather concerns,” says Todd Schomburg, Stine’s director of agronomy. “That said, if you plant late, you need to consider using crop removal rates for your fertility program to protect the genetic potential of your seed. Remember to use realistic yield goals when applying nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. And, as in any good fertility management program, don’t skip the sulfur.”

If you conducted soil sampling last fall or early this spring, you likely have a good idea of what inputs are needed. But if you were unable to complete soil sampling, be sure to follow your state’s fertility recommendations.

For example, according to Michigan State University Extension, crop nutrient removal for soybeans is .8 pounds per bushel of phosphorus and 1.4 pounds per bushel for potash. For corn, removal is .9 pounds per bushel of nitrogen, .37 pounds per bushel of phosphorus and .27 pounds per bushel of potash.

Always keep in mind that the bigger the yields at harvest, the bigger the nutrient loss for your next crop.

Crop switch
If you’re past being able to plant corn, it’s time to consider a different crop. For growers who choose to switch to soybeans, make sure you consider which herbicides were previously applied to the ground. For example, if an HPPD inhibitor (HPPDi) was previously applied to corn, there are HPPDi-tolerant soybean options available, including Stine^® LibertyLink^® GT27^® soybeans.

“Because of their overall effectiveness, HPPDi herbicides are a staple in the U.S. corn market. It’s estimated that roughly half of U.S. corn acres have HPPDi-based chemistries applied to them. Fortunately, Stine LibertyLink GT27 soybeans have built-in tolerance to HPPDi/Group 27-based herbicides, which means they have extra protection against potential HPPDi/Group 27 carryover,” says Schomburg.

If switching to a shorter-season corn product, consider a hybrid that’s tolerant to disease pressure. Cool temps and wet soils are a catalyst for disease growth so know which diseases typically affect your region in years like this and plan as best you can.

Increased soybean populations
We recommend growers who are faced with late planting of soybeans increase populations slightly.

“When you increase populations on soybeans, the goal is to get more vegetative growth. This allows for an easier harvest and minimizes yield loss. And the taller and wider your plants get, they begin to shade the rows which helps limit weed competition,” says Tony Lenz, Stine corn technical agronomist.

Tony adds that soybean growers still have time before they need to consider an alternative maturity. “If you already have something that aligns with your planting plan and region, there’s no need to switch to an earlier maturity just yet.”

Seed treatments
If you’re still waiting to plant soybeans, seed treatments, including inoculants, are still a viable option. Seed treatments help protect the genetic potential of your seed, which can be critical in a year such as this. Where cool, wet soils persist, so do diseases that thrive in these conditions.

“We have a handful of seed treatment options available to help ward off the early onset of diseases and insects,” Schomburg says. “Stine XP soybean seed treatments come in four custom-blend formulations, including Stine XP Complete, Stine XP-F&I, Stine XP-F&I with BIOst^® Nematicide and Stine XP-F. You can find information about each option on our website or by connecting with your local Stine sales rep or seed dealer.”

Prevented plant deadlines
One big thing to keep in mind as you consider what can be done with any acres left unplanted is the prevented plant deadlines for each state. Prevented planting provisions should be available in each insurance policy, but growers must recognize that any acres planted after the prevented plant date may be subject to less coverage. That said, it’s always a good idea to consult with your insurance company and local seed rep to discuss whether prevented plant coverage is a better option than late-planted hybrids or varieties.   

For more recommendations on managing your late-planted corn or soybean acres, consult with your local Stine sales rep or regional sales agronomist.

The May 23 Crop Progress Report states that 72% of the nation’s corn crop is in the ground, up from 49% last week. Of corn planted, 39% is emerged. For soybeans, 50% are planted, up from 30% last week. Corn planting is still 17% behind last year’s progress at this time, and soybeans are 23% behind last year’s planting numbers. Here’s what’s happening across the regions we serve:

Brian Burnell, Region 16 RSA (northern Indiana)
The northern half of Indiana has been very hit and miss. Just last Tuesday, I spoke with a grower on the southern edge who was done with corn and half done with soybeans, but the same day, a grower in the northern extreme still hadn’t planted anything. If I had to peg a number, I would say we are 65% done on corn and 40% on soybeans. I encourage growers to check soybean fields, especially as crusting has been a topic of conversation. I don’t think the issue is as big as it sounds, but we don’t want to miss a poor stand due to crusting and figure it out post spray time. Corn that is up looks great so far in my travels.

Katie Lorenz, Region 21 RSA (northern North Dakota)
North Dakota is, no doubt, the farthest behind this year when it comes to planting updates across the U.S. Saturated and cold soils from early spring snowfall and repeat rainfall are to blame. Slowly but surely the tractors and planters are starting to make their way from the shops to any dry dirt they can find. Corn planting is just underway, with only 20% of acres planted, well behind the 82% last year and the 67% average this time of year. Of the corn planted, only 1% has emerged, proving the cold spring temperatures are also well below average. For soybeans, only 7% of acres have been planted, whereas last year we were at 72%. We are all hoping the rain gives us a needed break to get these crops in the wet northern ground!

Jake Anderson, Region 12 RSA (western Illinois)
As in much of the Midwest, planting was delayed on account of wet field conditions and cool temperatures. Very little seed went in the ground in April. Things started picking up as May rolled around, and with the onset of a heatwave and clear forecast, it really broke loose. We’ve had a few rains since then but have been making steady progress. Some areas have experienced moderate amounts of replant as a result of crusted soil that had a negative impact on emergence. On the whole, our region is about 85% to 90% planted.

Chad Kuehl, Region 5 RSA (south central and southeastern Nebraska)
Lots of people are finishing up planting in Region 5 in southeast Nebraska. The biggest hurdle for a lot of growers in Nebraska was the constant wind that made it tough to get their pre sprayed ahead of soybean planting. With the warm weather last week, we saw corn emerging very quickly. We did have some cool temps this past weekend, where we saw a small amount of frost damage on soybeans in the northern part of my region (more on the no-till planted soybeans).

Dustin Ellis, Region 4 RSA (central Iowa)
Planting is close to complete for many growers in central Iowa. Like Nebraska, one big challenge growers faced in Iowa was frequent winds. This made it tough to put down their pre before soybeans were in the ground and corn emerged. We had 70+ degree temps last week, which allowed corn to emerge within six to seven days. Colder temps over the weekend slowed emergence in both corn and soybeans. That said, we just received much-needed rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, totaling close to 1.5 inches or more in some areas. The extended forecast looks great with some high 80-degree weather, which will get these last planted acres to emerge.

Aaron Stockton, Region 9 RSA (southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, Oklahoma, northern Texas)
In Region 9, we have been battling the weather all spring. Growers have been able to find enough dry days here and there to get most of their corn in. As the calendar continues to tick by, and it gets later and later, the question is what to do with corn acres that are still unplanted.. Those decisions are being made now. There have been a few soybeans go in the ground so far, but we still have time to get those acres covered. Despite all the rain, we have seen most acres emerge with decent stand counts. All in all, we have been in worse shape before, and with a few dry days and a little sunshine, we can get back on track fairly quickly.

Bethany Oland, Region 7 RSA, (eastern South Dakota)
While southern areas of South Dakota have been abnormally dry this spring and the northern portion of the state substantially wet, the one common factor has been the wind. Field work, planting, and spraying have definitely been a challenge for Region 7. Growers in southern South Dakota are currently dealing with crusting and dust storms, which leads too emergence issues and wind damage. Sawing-off of soybeans has been an issue in certain areas. 

While cold temperatures and moisture delayed planting in the north, growers are finally getting into the fields. I would expect corn to continue to be planted through Memorial Day weekend, then we’ll see a switch to soybeans.

For more information on planting progress or agronomic tips throughout the season, contact your local Stine sales rep.