Corn Projects 2006

Keeping your eyes, ears and mind open can allow you to ask the right questions, test some new ideas and examine the way you are doing things.

1. Replant Investigation

   The Ontario Corn Committee has a project underway to re-evaluate provincial recommendations on re-planting corn that has less than optimal stands. Funding for this project is being provided by the seed corn companies and by OCPA. Corn will be planted in trials at Ridgetown, Exeter and Elora on three planting dates (late-April, early-May and late-May) with final populations set at 12,000, 18,000, 24,000 and 30,000 plants per acre. Eight representative hybrids will be tested at each location.

   This project will:

   1. generate revised recommendations on the cost effectiveness of re-planting based on original planting date and plant population, and
   2. test whether or not a “one-size fits all” approach is appropriate for re-planting decisions or whether there are significant differences amongst hybrids (i.e. flex versus fix).

   Result will be included in the OCC Report in December 2006 or can be viewed on the Go Corn website.

2. Peas As Your N Supply

   A 15 site-year study (2003 to 2005) indicated that a pea cover crop can be effectively established into wheat stubble fields with nitrogen fixing rates similar to a good stand of red clover. On these 15 sites, above ground pea forage yields averaged about 2 tons per acre with an N content of about 80 lb/acre. Early establishment of the crop, as soon as possible after wheat harvest, is critical.

   Research in 2006 and 2007 will zero in on two questions:

   1. How much of the cover crop N can actually be credited towards the subsequent corn crop? and,
   2. Is there any corn yield boost, independent of N,, that can be attributed to the peas? Stay in touch with progress on this project, or become a co-operator by calling the OMAFRA CropLine at 1-888-449-0937.

3. N Calculator Validation

   After years of gathering data and developing new nitrogen recommendations for corn, 2006 is the first year where these new OMAFRA recommendations are being put to the test in a wide array on field scale trials. Funding for these field scale comparisons is being provided by OCPA, Agricorp, OMAFRA and the Agricultural Adaptation Council (CORD IV). In 40 fields across the province growers are asked to follow the OMAFRA recommendations on the bulk of the field. Several strips will also be imposed where the nitrogen rate is significantly higher than the new recommendations and based on the growers past N use experience. Assessments at the end of the season will evaluate the profitability behind both N rates. This work will be of particular interest to growers in eastern Ontario, where the research data supported nitrogen recommendations considerably lower than traditional practices and lower than the rest of the province.

4. Drying Costs Versus Yield

   We recently have been analyzing the relationship between harvest moisture (drying costs) and yield from a wide range of hybrids planted at the OCC performance trials over the last several years. The results have lead me to suggest that even with the relatively high costs of drying, selecting full season hybrids with higher yields and higher drying costs was a more profitable option than shorter season hybrids with lower yields and lower drying costs.

   I have been challenged that this conclusion only applies to early-planted corn. I think that is correct! However, this still is an area with room for more study. Since hybrid selection and drying costs can vary tremendously from one farmer to another, this is the kind of number crunching the individual growers should be doing on their own. For example, on your operation, how many additional bushels of yield does it take to cover the costs of an additional point of moisture? If you go to the Go Corn website and click on 1987-2005 Corn Hybrid Selector you can find some spreadsheet tools to help you with these calculations.

5. Sulphur For Corn

   Recent studies have shown responses to sulphur that were not found previously. Sulphur deposition from acid rain and dry deposition, a result of air pollution, has dropped dramatically as efforts to reduce sulphur emissions have been implemented. For the first time in memory, winter canola fields in Grey County in 2005 did not set seed, and were diagnosed to be a sulphur deficiency. Canola is a very heavy user of sulphur, needing approximately 15 pounds/acre/year. Wheat requires 12 pounds/acre/year. Corn requires slightly less than this.

   Studies by Dr. Kurt Thelen, Michigan State University, found from 0 to 23 bu/ac yield increase in corn yield in 2005, with an average increase of 11 bu/ac, as a result of sulphur application. The Middlesex Soil and Crop Improvement Association has a project underway this year to compare dry starter fertilizer with and without sulphur. Stay tuned for results this fall.

Related Links:

• Go Corn Website

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