Corn
Learn about an Iowa plot trial that is looking at the yield boosting potential of strip cropping corn and cover crops.
Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are finally aligned for planting in much of the Midwest. In the hurry to get the job done, keep in mind that to get a 300-bu. corn yield, you need to start with at least a 300-bu. picket-fence stand.
Iowa farmers say a foliar fungicide application can add more bushels per acre by preventing losses to disease pressure and minimizing the impact of environmental factors, such as heat stress and drought.
David Cogen partnered with John Deere during the 2024 growing season to till, plant, spray and harvest a small field at Deere’s Boundurant, Iowa, test farm. In the process, he says he learned a lot about farming and how difficult it truly is.
Randy Hughes is continually refining his fertility program and has seen yields improve 40 bu. to 50 bu. per acre over the past six years. Hughes chats with corn yield champs David Hula and Randy Dowdy about the importance of being a lifelong student of the crop.
Farmers who are seeing this issue show up in their seed sample test results might want to consider not using starter in-furrow this spring. There are good options off the seed, Ken Ferrie reports.
You want nutrients where corn roots can “luxury feed” on them without expending energy going and looking for them, say yield champions, David Hula and Randy Dowdy. They share some tips on how to accomplish that and make the most of your fertilizer dollars this season.
USDA says Texas farmers have 59% of their crop in the ground, identical to 2024. One key difference from last year: Illinois has yet to register any discernible corn planting progress, according to the first report of the 2025 season.
While macronutrients and micronutrients such as zinc, iron, and manganese contribute to high yields, yield champs say don’t overlook the importance of having soil pH in place first.
USDA’s March Prospective Plantings report estimates U.S. farmers will plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2025, 83.5 million acres of soybeans and 45.4 million acres of wheat.
Add several thousand ears per acre to your yield results and boost ROI by getting your planter ready for the field. Be sure to download our free planter prep checklist.
When that corn crop comes up this spring, you want it to be green and stay green. One potential issue: if you’re using urea surface-applied, work it in right away or use a urease inhibitor. Make sure the N doesn’t gas off.
Ferrie details six agronomic factors to keep in mind, if you’re newer to growing continuous corn, that can help you achieve success this season.
A corn grower asks: Will making a shallow application of 10-34-0 provide corn plants with sufficient phosphorus during early growth stages when corn is planted in cool soils with a soil Bray P1 of 35+ ppm? Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer, Farm Journal field agronomists, share their recommendation.
Ken Ferrie says to batten down the hatches for this season by picking the right hybrids, placing them on the right fields and giving them the right management. He outlines the steps you can take now to do just that.
The company says this will be its largest field-trial program to date, giving farmers the opportunity to see the performance of industry leading products in their own fields.
Having a soil pH in the neutral to 6.8 range across corn acres can help growers get the best performance from their fertility program — achieving higher yields with better ROI.
Naaman Cullers, 19, has inherited the competitive genes of his yield-legend dad, Kip Cullers.
Growers are trying to figure out what caused missing plants in their corn stands last season and what solutions they can use this spring.
Maximize yield potential by tapping into how plant leaf structure and ear type work together in the field.
According to the new interim rule, farmers can choose one or more of the CSA actions — no-till or reduced-till, cover crops, and nutrient management. Unlike prior rules, farmers no longer have to use all three on the same field at the same time.
Ken Ferrie advises farmers to plant no more than a third of their acres to a new corn product, if they don’t have significant experience with it. He says to bank on proven winners in the field for next season.
The dispute traces back to December 2020 when plans were first announced to ban GM corn by the end of 2024. This move immediately raised concerns in the Corn Belt, prompting NCGA to initiate outreach to both the Trump and Biden administrations.
In 1960, the Minneapolis Lakers were traveling back from St. Louis on their team plane. The plane lost electrical power soon after takeoff, and flying blind, the pilots finally found a place to land. It’s that spot in the middle of Carroll, Iowa, that helped create a safe landing.
December might provide an opportunity. Another consideration is moving to no-till. Ferrie also addresses recouping dollars on ground that is going into solar projects.
Mexico is self-sufficient in white corn, used to make the country’s staple tortilla, but imports genetically-modified yellow corn from the United States which is used largely to feed livestock.
Mexico came in with another big buy of U.S. corn on Friday. USDA reported a sale of 781,322 metric tons of corn for delivery to Mexico.
Our brief video takes you through evaluating stand losses from pest pressure, disease issues and dry conditions in a central Illinois cornfield. These insights can help you plan for next season’s bumper yields.
Reduce the risks by putting together some practical steps to prevent fire from happening, while also educating employees and family members on what to do if one occurs.
Take a tour through ISU’s Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, and you’ll encounter state-of-the-art technology advancing the feed industry.