Field work – from ISU’s Paul Kassel.

I traveled from Spencer to Cherokee to the ISU research farm near Sutherland last Wednesday. There were a few people in the field — mainly field cultivating soybean stubble and applying ammonia. However, as I got back to the Everly and Spencer area — the field work — and evidence of the field work — stopped. It appears to be a little wetter over this way.

Most of the farmers I have talked to have said it is just too wet – and too cold for any real field work. The field work in my area has been mostly limited to tiling, picking up rocks, and taking out fence.

Corn acres.

I have heard from a couple of fertilizer dealers in my area that have some customers who are going to switch some soybean acres to corn. One dealer indicated that he might have a 1000 additional corn acres in his trade area – as a result of the recent increase in corn grain prices. The dealers said that in spite of the high fertilizer prices, the farmers are still seeing more profit potential in corn. The gross income from a 55 bu/a soybean crop (~$600.00/acre) versus a 170 bu/a corn on corn crop (~850.00/acre) favors the corn crop. The corn on corn crop offers an additional $100.00/acre profit – if you figure $150.00 an acre additional expense for the nitrogen, seed and grain handling of the corn crop.

Volunteer corn where corn follows corn.

A study from the University of Illinois shows that competition from uncontrolled volunteer corn in corn can reduce yields by 37 to 58%. This information comes from a research study where volunteer corn was seeded at ~90, 000 seeds per acre in small plots. However, 90,000 kernels per acre is just a bushel of corn. Late summer wind damage caused some major corn loss in some areas. Consider this info where corn will follow corn and the volunteer corn cannot be controlled – for example a Liberty Link/Roundup Ready hybrid last year.

Ammonia application and planting.

The questions often comes up, “How long do I need to wait after ammonia application before I can plant corn?” There is no exact answer, according to John Sawyer, ISU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist. However, these guidelines should help.

• Apply NH3 6 to 8 inches deep.
• Apply at an angle to the future corn rows.
• Avoid wet soils – sometimes easier said than done – but wet soils are often a problem because the ammonia knife will smear the sides of the application zone. Then free ammonia can move up the zone of application – and damage the young corn seedling.

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