The early onset of unusually warm temperatures across much of the Corn Belt has farmers and markets alike questioning whether the yield potential of the 2024 corn crop is being compromised.
Bob Nielsen
Conventional agronomic wisdom says that the prime planting “window” to maximize corn yields in much of Indiana opens about April 20 and closes about May 10. This “window” typically opens about one week later across the northern tier of Indiana counties (later warmup) and about one week earlier across the southern tier of Indiana counties (earlier warmup).
Historical trends in grain yield and the prospect of using them to predict future grain yields are of interest to a wide range of folks involved with row crop agriculture, from farmers to global grain marketing specialists.
Quite a few farmers throughout the northern half of Indiana are frustrated with the slow drydown of the 2023 corn crop, especially since some grain elevators are refusing to accept grain deliveries with moistures above certain levels, e.g., 27%.
The cost of seed corn represents 17% of farmers’ variable cost of production, second only to the cost of nitrogen (N) fertilizer.
Among a number of corny oddities that appear from time to time is one that falls into the “kernel disorder” category.
The number of harvestable kernels per ear is an important contributor to the grain yield potential of a corn plant.
Excessive drying of the upper soil profile is conducive for the development of what some of us affectionately call the “rootless corn” or “floppy corn” syndrome.
Successful emergence (fast & uniform), while important, does not guarantee successful stand establishment in corn.
Early planted corn always involves the risk of cold weather in the weeks after planting.
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