Many of today’s corn hybrids and soybean varieties possess tens-of-bushels of untapped yield potential. That is until the seed hits the ground. Why is there such a big disconnect between yield potential and harvest results? Three farmers from across the U.S. identify the most significant drain in their rows.
DEFEND AGAINST DISEASE
Kevin Matthews farms in the Yadkin River Valley, just northwest of the geographic center of North Carolina. With multiple corn yield records under his belt, Matthews grows 6,000 acres of row crops.
When water isn’t an issue, his biggest yield bandit is plant disease, usually gray leaf spot or northern leaf blight wreck havoc.
Matthews responds with heavy fungicide use. “We’ve got 6,000 acres of no-till, and that means 28,000 acres with sprayers because we make four to five trips a year, not counting if we get behind and need extra help.”
CAPTURE EVERY DROP
On flat quarter sections split by shelter belts, Chris Walberg farms dryland in Richland County, N.D. He grows alfalfa, corn, millet for seed, oats, rye, field peas, soybeans and sunflowers, along with significant cattle production.
The majority of his farmland is generally sandy (organic matter from a low of 0.8% to a high of 3%) and his acre-age lies on the cusp of what was essentially the beaches of ancient Lake Agassiz.
Lack of water is Walberg’s No. 1 yield-limiting factor. “We use regenerative farming practices — no-till, diverse cover crops and three to five different crops in rotation — to increase our water filtration and to increase the water-holding capacity of our soils.
“These practices also help in times of excess moisture by reducing runoff,” he concludes, “which lessens ponding in low spots, and having green-growing covers uses excess moisture in the spring.”
MAKE IT RAIN
Perry Galloway grows corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans and wheat on gently undulating fields in Gregory, Ark., roughly 80 miles northeast of Little Rock.
Drought or deficient moisture are consistent yield thorns on the lighter sandy soils of his corn acres.
“Irrigation is my combative measure,” he says. “I’m fortunate to have easily accessible groundwater. I treat every-thing with high management. I’ll do what I have to for the latest and greatest technology, but it has to come with high yields.”
Across his Woodruff County operation, Galloway is 90% irrigated with 50 pivots.
