Drought
The effects of the historical drought of 2012 continue to cause issues for farmers.
After last summer, a lot of farmers are asking David Thompson whether they should stick with the same corn plant populations in 2013.
Fungicides aren’t able to save corn plants on the brink of death, but they can prevent and control diseases and improve corn plant health.
Corn plants stressed by extreme heat and too little water yielded less grain and left more nitrogen in soils than in normal years.
This year, plan for prevention to reduce rootless corn syndrome, or floppy corn.
What happened in 2012, and what makes this winter so difficult to predict?
Conventional wisdom says lowering your corn plant populations will help boost yields if dry weather conditions prevail in 2013. That may or may not be a good strategy.
One lesson I learn every year—what-ever the growing conditions—is to respect what a field tells you.
While carryover nutrients may be available to crops next spring, one expert predicts that high crop prices for corn and soybeans will also play a major role in farmers’ nutrient use.
Follow these guidelines on nitrogen sources, application types and amounts after a tough production year.