Institute of Ag Professionals Proceedings of the 2009 Crop Pest Management Shortcourse & Minnesota Crop Production Retailers Association Trade Show www.extension.umn.edu/agprofessionals Do not reproduce or redistribute without the written consent of author(s).
300 BUSHEL CORN POSSIBLE; PROBABLE? CPM Short Course Minneapolis Convention Center 10 December 2009 Roger W. Elmore, Extension Corn Agronomist & Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University
advances in molecular breeding will push [national average yields] to 250 bushels per acre. Additional biotechnology gains will boost the average to 300 bushels per acre by 2030. October 2007
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Location, Location, Location Soil high organic matter, well drained Management Water Fertility & ph Tillage Pest management Weeds, Disease, Insect Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation at Kip Cullers 2007
Yields from ISU Corn Hybrid Trials - 2009 NE District NW Dsitrict Ave 104-109 RM = 161 Ave 104-109RM = 174 Range = 161-191 Range = 136-173 CE District Ave 109-114 RM = 197 Range = 178-215 Ames 109-114 RM = 197 Range = 181-213 SW District >112RM = 220 Range = 192-237 SE District Ave >112RM = 193 Range = 173-206
Transgenic Hybrids 85% of US growers % of US Growers planting GE Hybrids used transgenic corn in 2009 46% were gene stacked hybrids % 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 ALL GE Stacked GE Year USDA, Economic Research Service, 2009 From Wade Kent, Grad. Research Asst., 2009
Seed Costs per Acre - Iowa $120 Corn Seed Costs per Acre $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 $0 Farm Business Assoc. Estimates ISU Budget Values From Mike Duffy, ISU
Root Growth over time (Ames) Root biomass (Mg/ha) 1.8 1.6 2008 2009 DKC6018 DKC6169 Root Biomass (Mg/ha) 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 DKC6374 NC3943 NC4447 NC5329 PI33W84 PI34F29 PI34P94 NK68B 0 472 1024 1440 2550 474 1102 1459 2400 GH8953 GH9145 Sample Date (GDU s) From Wade Kent, Grad. Research Asst., 2009
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation 25,000, 35, 000, & 45,000 plants per acre
Midwest Corn Plant Populations NASS 2001-2009
Midwest Corn Plant Populations NASS 2001-2009 Minnesota = +367 ppa/year Iowa = +398 ppa/year
32 Site Years All ISU Locs (ppa) Percent Yield from 32 Site Years 100 95 % Yield 90 85 80 75 70 20000 30000 40000 50000 Plant Population (ppa)
Era Hybrids at Varying Plant Populations 191 32,000 ppa 159 12,146 ppa 127 95 64 Grain Yield (bu/acre) 4,000 ppa 32 D. Duvick. 2005. Advances in Agronomy. Volume 86
Planting Rate of NCGA Contest Winners, 2005-2008 From: Steve Butzen, Pioneer Agronomy Sciences, 2009
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation FEEL, ISU, 2009
Iowa corn planting progress: 1975-2009 100 90 80 70 Corn Planted ( %) 60 50 40 30 20 10 1975-1979 1980-1984 1985-1989 1990-1994 1995-1999 2000-2004 2005-2009 0 9-Apr 23-Apr 7-May 21-May 4-Jun 18-Jun USDA-NASS data
Iowa Corn Planting Progress: 1975-79, 2004-2009 110 100 90 80 Corn Planted % 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1975-1979 4/9 4/16 4/23 4/30 5/7 5/14 5/21 5/28 6/4 6/11 6/18 6/25 7/2 7/9 USDA NASS Date
Research Design Three years: 2006, 2007, and 2009 2008 data not included due to wet conditions and cool temperatures Multiple locations: 6 ISU research and demonstration farms Plot dimensions: 8 rows x 50 feet
April 10 April 20 May 1 May 10 May 20 May 30
98% Yield Window: April 17 May 8 95% Yield Window: April 11 May 13 April 10 April 20 May 1 May 10 May 20 May 30
98% Yield Window: April 15 May 9 95% Yield Window: April 15 May 18 April 10 April 20 May 1 May 10 May 20 May 30
98% Yield Window: April 12 April 30 95% Yield Window: April 12 May 2 April 10 April 20 May 1 May 10 May 20 May 30
95% Planting Date Recommendations: 3 Regions 95% Yield Window: April 12 May 2 95% Yield Window: April 15 May 18 95% Yield Window: April 11 May 13
98% Planting Date Recommendations: 3 Regions 98% Yield Window: April 12 April 30 98% Yield Window: April 15 May 9 98% Yield Window: April 17 May 8
Average Daily Temperature ( F): Apr 15 Oct 15 10 yr average (2000-2009); NOAA MRCC Data - Courtesy of Dr. Pat Guinan, MU
Grain Moisture Across Locations ~0.25% increase ~0.17% per day increase ~0.10% per day increase per day April 10 April 20 May 1 May 10 May 20 May 30
April 10 April 20 May 1 May 10 May 20 May 30
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation Humbolt Co. Iowa, Andreas, 1875.
Fertility, Grant Wood, 1939.
Average Row Spacing Iowa, Illinois, & Minnesota 1991-2009 35. Average Row Spacing (inches) 34 33 32 31 30 29 Illinois Iowa Minnesota 28 Compiled from USDA-NASS 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Yield in 15 and 30-Inch Rows IL and IA Yield in 15-Inch (bu/acre) 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 IL 00-02 IL 90's IA Pop x Row IA Hybrid x Row 1:1 Line Linear (1:1 Line) 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Yield in 30-Inch (bu/acre)
Row Spacing of NCGA Contest Winners, 2005-2008 From: Steve Butzen, Pioneer Agronomy Sciences, 2009
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation
Corn on Corn
Yield C>C vs C>SB, Iowa 2008-2009 18 14% Yield loss C-C vs. C-SB 16 16% 4% 10% 20% 1% 14 11% 30% 8% 2% 12 19% 28% Yield (Mg/ha) 10 8 C-C C-SB 6 4 2 0 Calument '08 Calument '09 Kanawha '08 Kanwaha '09 Nashua '08 Nashua '09 Lewis '08 NK '09 Ames '08 Ames '09 C-Ville '08 Location From Wade Kent, Grad. Research Asst., 2009
Previous crop residue effect on yield, Iowa, 16 2008-2009. Northern locations b Southern locations b 14 a a a A a a A A a 12 A A A 10 Yield (Mg/ha) 8 6 2008 2009 4 2 0 From Wade Kent, Grad. Research Asst., 2009 Previous crop residue
Iowa Yields: Following Corn & Soybean [RW Transgenic Hybrids] 300 250 Corn after Corn Corn after Soybeans 200 150 100 Average13.4% difference 50 0 C '04 NW '04 SW '05 NW '05 C '06 NW '06 SE '06 C '07 SW '07 NW '07 SE '07 SC '07 NC '07 NE '07 C '08 SW '08 NW '08 SE '08 SC '08 NC '08 NE '08 avg J. Sawyer & D. Barker, Iowa State Univ. 2008
Previous crop of NCGA Contest Winners, 2005-2007 From: Steve Butzen, Pioneer Agronomy Sciences, 2009
Achieving 300 Bu/Ac Corn Yield Hybrid Plant population Planting date Row Spacing Crop Rotation
Low Fruit Picked? Crop Rotation Planting Date Row Spacing Seeding Rate Soil Fertility Tillage Pest Management http://www.rahul.net/clb/pix/apples.jpg Others?
For 300, Focus on.
to reach for higher yields Situations Often Overlooked: Planting adjustments Seeding depth Planting conditions: sidewall compaction, etc. Picket-fence stands (higher yield environments?) Uneven emergence
to reach for higher yields Situations Often Overlooked: Residue management/soil system Compaction early season and harvest Complex interactions between management practices Scout, Scout, Scout!
U.S. Corn Yields, 1930-2030 300 Calculated: 193 bu/a 2030 250 1.87 bu/a/yr Yield (bu/acre) 200 150 100 slope (30 yr) 1.24% 50 0 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
U.S. Corn Yields, 1930-2030 300 300 bu/a 2030 Calculated: 250 6.29 bu/a/yr slope (30 yr) Yield (bu/acre) 200 150 100 4.2% 193 bu/a 2030 50 0 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
1988 2008 NCGA Winners (1 st -3 rd ) Yield (bpa) 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 Yields above 400 bu/acre removed
300 BUSHEL CORN POSSIBLE; PROBABLE?
Roger Elmore relmore@iastate.edu 515.294.6655 Lori Abendroth labend@iastate.edu 515.294.5692 Corn Web Page: www.agronext.iastate.edu/corn/