Top 10 Tips for Corn Yields

January 10, 2019

Corn piles high in the middle of corn harvest.

Best management practices (BMPs) go a long way to help growers secure the best yields and return on investment when growing corn. While there are many factors involved in achieving top yields, the following top 10 tips can help growers add bushels and profits and wind up with the best corn yield outcomes:

1. Test soil fertility

Test soil fertility levels annually, or at least every other year, preferably in the fall. Add phosphate and/or potassium to help boost corn yields when soil tests indicate the need². Proper nitrogen fertilizer practices are critical for high-yielding corn³. Determine the best nitrogen rate and timing by balancing the rate of uptake needed for the crop to thrive during key growth times and how much nitrogen can be lost during wet weather.

2. Research hybrid selections

Select hybrids from more than one maturity and genetic group for risk management and to spread out the workload at planting and harvest time. Research hybrids with consistently high-yield corn ratings, good standability and appropriate maturity ratings for your area. Always consult your local seed dealer and review performance ratings of various hybrids from university extension trials that match your individual farming needs¹.

3. Control key pests with seed genetics and traits

Plant hybrids that have shown good yield trial results, plus your tried-and-true hybrids. Seed genetics with built-in herbicide tolerance traits can significantly enhance control of a broad range of tough-to-manage grasses and broadleaf weeds. Diversify hybrid choices to spread risk with a range of maturities and insect and disease susceptibilities.

4. Protect corn early with seed treatments

Invest in a seed treatment to protect against diseases, insect pests and nematodes to get young corn plants off to a good start. To protect against early-season pests such as corn rootworms, wireworms, white grubs and chinch bugs, as well as provide broad-spectrum protection against nematodes, consider a systemic seed treatment component along with a biological for root protection and additional modes of action for dual protection.

5. Consider optimal planting dates

Consider geography, weather and individual field conditions such as drainage when deciding when to plant. Recommended planting dates for corn tend to range from early April to early May⁴. Spring weather can change quickly from cool and wet to dry and warm. “Mudding in the seed” can result in the loss of valuable time spent struggling with stuck equipment, such as tractors and planters. It can also put you at risk for yield reduction due to poor stands and can cause soil compaction issues later in the season.

6. Check seeding rates

Follow your seed company’s recommendations because there are many variables, such as soil types, different hybrid maturity dates and yield potential on various soil types. Seeding rate decisions are best made field-by-field. Also, consider row width when determining seeding population.

7. Invest in season-long weed control

Manage grass and broadleaf weeds early. Plant into weed-free fields using pre-plant and pre-emergence residual herbicides. Always aim to control weeds before they reach 3 inches in height. Larger weeds are more difficult to control and compete more tenaciously with corn seedlings for sunlight, soil, water and other nutrients. If weed escapes happen, stay clean with an effective post-emergence herbicide.

Bayer has a broad herbicide portfolio to combat tough-to-control and resistant weeds.* A well-thought-out herbicide program, using multiple sites of action and nonchemical practices, should be implemented. Before applying any herbicide, please read the entire label for the best possible results and to confirm that the product is effective on the weeds you wish to control.

When managing corn crops for high yields, remember it’s always best to start with a clean field. Start with an Autumn™ Super(2)** herbicide application in the fall, and the following spring use Corvus^® herbicide(2, 27) as a pre-emergence herbicide that has complementary modes of action to control early-season problem weeds. Corvus pre-emergence herbicide from Bayer is the only corn herbicide to offer burndown and reactivation. Burndown activity helps fields start clean, while reactivation controls late weeds, keeping weeds away all season long.

The multiple modes of action in Corvus deliver consistent, broad-spectrum control of grasses and broadleaf weeds, including weeds resistant to glyphosate-, ALS-, PPO- and triazine-based herbicides.

Follow Corvus applications with a post-emergence application of DiFlexx^® DUO herbicide to help finish off tough-to-control weeds, including glyphosate-resistant marestail, Palmer Amaranth, ragweed and waterhemp. This zero-tolerance approach to weed control takes weeds out early and keeps them away all season long.

8. Protect plant health with fungicides

Proactively plan to use fungicides to manage for optimum plant health. Planned fungicide use helps prevent disease pressure from negatively impacting yields, especially in a no-till situation with higher residue or in fields that were planted to corn the year prior.

A well-thought-out disease-management program, including best management practices, proper seed protection, and selection and fungicide applications using multiple modes of action should be implemented to sustainably manage diseases.

Achieve your personal best yield with help from Delaro^® fungicide from Bayer. Its advanced formulation delivers unmatched, broad-spectrum disease control, best-in- class dual mode of action residual and improved plant health. Unlike other corn fungicides, Delaro delivers long-lasting residual control from both its strobilurin and latest in its class triazole components for extended performance, defense against key diseases and reduced risk of developing fungicide resistance.

In hundreds of field trials across 20 states in 2016 and 2017, Delaro showed a yield advantage in 90 percent of trials over the untreated check. Delaro averaged a 12-to-18 bushel-per-acre increase in corn and four to five bushel-per-acre increase in soybeans compared to an untreated check.

Before applying any fungicide, please read the entire label for the best possible results and to confirm that the product is effective against the disease you need to control. Not every product is suitable for every situation, and correct application technique will ensure the best results.

9. Scout early to proactively manage key pests

Check fields early and often for emerging weeds, diseases and insects to help guide treatment decisions and economic thresholds5. Follow extension reports to proactively manage outbreaks that may happen in your area. Season-long management of weed, disease and insect pests in corn will aid your goal for best return on investment at the end of the growing season.

10. Focus on resistance management practices

Use diversified management practices to manage resistance to herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Select products from different classes of chemistries that address multiple, effective sites of action. Refer to sources such as Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC), Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC), Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) and Take Action^6,7,8,9. Extension and cultural practices such as tillage and crop rotation can also help.

Proactive resistance management can best be achieved by implementing a two-pass program to manage weeds. A recommended two-pass program starts with a pre-emergence application of Corvus herbicide. The second pass should include a postemergence product such as Laudis^® herbicide (27). If using Laudis following an application of Corvus, add another effective herbicide with a different mode of action, such as DiFlexx^® DUO(4) herbicide or atrazine, to ensure you are using multiple modes of action in your weed control.

Capreno^® herbicide (2, 27) is another postemergence herbicide option for corn from Bayer. It has the longest-lasting residual of any post product on the market. With multiple modes of action, Capreno controls more than 65 grasses and broadleaves, including those resistant to glyphosate, PPO, ALS, dicamba and triazines.

To learn more about using herbicides with effective modes of action, refer to the Herbicide Resistance Management Guide. To explore the recommendations of Respect the Rotation™, the Bayer resistance management program, contact your local Bayer sales representative or talk to your regional agronomist.

Bayer offers a broad portfolio of season-long products to help corn growers achieve the highest possible yield and grain quality. Read the entire label for best results and to confirm the product is effective on the pests you need to control. Choose the best products to control your specific pests and achieve the best yield outcome.

*Always read and follow label instructions and confirm the product is effective on the pests you need to control. Not all products are registered for use in every state. Not every product is suitable for every situation, and correct application techniques will ensure the best results.

** Denotes SOA group

For information on a portfolio of products from Bayer to help maximize yields and protect crops, contact your local Bayer representative.

^{© 2018 Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63167. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer (reg’d), the Bayer Cross (reg’d), Autumn Super™, Delaro^®, DiFlexx^®, Capreno^®, Laudis^®, and Stratego^® are trademarks of Bayer. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us.}

Sources:

1. “Purdue Crop Performance Program.” Why Do We Use GMOs?, ag.purdue.edu/agry/PCPP/SitePages/pcppCorn.aspx.

2. Daniel Kaiser, et al. “Fertilizing Corn in Minnesota.” University of Minnesota Extension, 2018, extension.umn.edu/crop-specific-needs/fertilizing-corn-minnesota.

3. “Nitrogen.” University of Minnesota Extension, extension.umn.edu/nutrient-management/nitrogen.In-text Citation “Field Crops: Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates.” USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, 2010, usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/planting/planting-10-29-2010.pdf.

4. “Field Crops: Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates.” USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, 2010, usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/planting/planting-10-29-2010.pdf.

5. Krupke, Christian. “Corn Integrated Pest Management Guide.” Field Crops IPM, Purdue University Extension, extension.entm.purdue.edu/fieldcropsipm/corn.php.

6. Hrac. “PROTECTING CROP YIELDS AND QUALITY WORLDWIDE.” Herbicide Resistance Action Committee, hracglobal.com/.

7. “FRAC | Mechanisms of Fungicide Resistance.” FRAC | Introduction to the Phenylamides - FRAC Expert Fora, www.frac.info/resistance-overview/mechanisms-of-fungicide-resistance.

8. “Insecticide Resistance Action Committee.” IRAC, www.irac-online.org/.

9. “Take Action: Pesticide-Resistance Management.” Take Action, https://www.iwilltakeaction.com