10.07 - The Seedsman
Where Do High Yields Come From
Often when farmers get extremely high yields, they don’t consider the many elements that went into making all of those bushels. They simply tie bonus yields to cooperative weather patterns such as rainfall at the right time or favorable air temperatures. Although those ARE important factors that impact yields, other changes can be made to take those yields ever higher when the environment is favorable.
This year we will be planting our corn at three different populations on the Dulaney farm, 34,000, 40,000, and 46,000 plants per acre. Our plan is to keep increasing populations, as we are able to adjust the other elements of our corn management program. We believe that it takes several years to significantly increase yields because so many factors have to change. When we adjust one factor, we must re-evaluate and adjust every other factor. Everyone of those adjustments must be done purposefully. For example, we will not only be applying more fertilizer to support the extra plants we are putting out there, but we will also be applying it at different times throughout the season. The basis for this timing will be an aggressive "tissue-testing program. Ask our AgVenture Crop Planners how you can use our tissue-testing program to help monitor your fields next season. It’s easy, simple and one of the best investments you can make to know what nutrition your crop needs and when. Follow us, and we will help you take your corn yields to brand new levels.
Terry’s Corner
We’ve already developed the Cropping Plan for the 2008 corn crop on our own farm. The plan includes changes that will help us work toward our goal of averaging 300 bushels on every acre. Since we’ve broken the 289 bu.⁄ac. mark already, we’re going to make even more dramatic moves that will take us closer and closer to that goal. In this issue you will find a few of those proposed changes. Remember, getting significant yield increases doesn’t come over night. We believe it will take us three to five years to achieve 300 bu.⁄ac. averages. However, this quest has reminded us raising yields this significantly on any crop requires a change in attitude. You must first believe it can be done if it’s really going to happen. At AgVenture, everyone believes all of our customers have the ability to achieve 300 bu.⁄ac. averages.
Agronomy Corner, Grain Aeration
During grain aeration, fan operation time depends solely on the airflow rate within a storage bin or pile. An aeration fan is usually sized for about 1⁄10 cfm⁄bu, while an in-bin drying fan is usually sized for 1 cfm⁄bu. It is very important to recognize the difference in order to operate the fans long enough to move the cooling front completely through the bulk. Depending upon the amount of grain and storage facility utilized, a 1⁄10 cfm⁄bu fan may need up to 200 hours to get the cooling front all the way through the grain, temperatures should be checked about 1 foot into the upper surface in several locations to confirm that the cooing front has moved completely through before the fan is shut off. If air is pulled through the grain, the air temperature should be measured in the duct before it is exhausted by the fan.