Breaking Barriers with R&D
Lifelong farmers and founders of Total Acre, Randy Dowdy and David Hula share their Breaking Barriers agronomic insights to challenge farmers to think differently. While known for growing record-breaking corn and soybean yields, their primary focus is maximizing profits on every acre. Learn from the duo to focus on continual, measurable improvement on your farm.
While USDA’s crop condition ratings don’t translate to a specific yield, with strong conditions, analysts say it’s possible the U.S. will see a national record corn yield this year. Current market chatter is a national corn yield anywhere from 185 bu. to 200 bu. per acre.
David Hula believes a high-quality carrier is so critical to the performance of his crop protection products that he loads and hauls all the water to the local airport that his aerial applicator uses.
The ‘cure’ for low prices is more yield. David Hula and Randy Dowdy have some practical recommendations to help you take more corn to the bin this fall.
Alex Harrell, soybean world record holder, says the technology helps him make more accurate and timely foliar product applications, while costing less than using a ground rig or an airplane.
How can you know whether your corn crop has strong yield potential? It doesn’t have to be a mystery, say David Hula and Randy Dowdy. Their practical tips will help you make good input decisions this season for better outcomes at harvest.
Make adjustments as you plant because when those final steps are done poorly, corn germinates unevenly and there’s no way to go back and undo the damage.
GDUs offer a more reliable method to predict corn emergence and development than using calendar days, according to yield champions David Hula and Randy Dowdy. They also offer their pro tip on how to assess planting and germination depth.
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.
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.
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.