Continuous Corn
GROWING CONTINUOUS CORN
Thinking seriously about planting more corn-on-corn acres?
If so, it's a good bet you are also considering what you can do to maximize yield potential on those acres.
Effectively managing the unique challenges of the continuous corn cropping environment will significantly impact your success. A well thought-out plan that includes these key management practices can help you reach your production goals:
Hybrid selection
Base your selections on risk management. In this higher risk environment, agronomic stability is a critical hybrid characteristic for success. Select hybrids with good stand establishment, early vigor, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and standability. Stress tolerance is often overlooked when selecting corn-on-corn hybrids, but its importance is apparent in a drier-than-average year. Talk to your seed representative about proven hybrids for corn-on-corn. We recommend that you rotate hybrids from year to year on specific acreages.
Nitrogen management
Consider increasing the nitrogen rate on continuous corn acres. There will be less nitrogen carried over from a previous crop of corn, and there will be substantially increased immobilization. Consider applying nitrogen closer to the uptake period, placing some early and close to the seedling in the form of starter or weed/feed combinations.
Corn rootworm management
With the advent of seed technology that puts rootworm protection in the plant, growing corn-on-corn profitably has become much easier. Selecting hybrids with Agrisure® 3000GT, Herculex® XTRA, Genuity® SmartStax®, Genuity® VT Triple PRO® or YieldGard VT Triple® technologies is a great way to go. If you do not choose in-the-plant protection, you MUST aggressively monitor and manage corn rootworms with an insecticide.
Increased disease pressure
Heavy pressure can occur from gray leaf spot, northern and southern leaf blights, eyespot, and physoderma brown spot, all of which overwinter in residues. Also, stalk and ear rots such as diplodia, fusarium, charcoal, anthracnose, and gibberella may be more prevalent. Make hybrid selections that factor in the increased disease pressure of the corn-on-corn environment. Plan to scout for disease pressure and use a foliar fungicide when warranted.
Planting considerations
Plant early, but make sure soil temperatures are at least 50 degrees. Move residues for better seed placement and to provide warmer soils in row. Assure good seed-to-soil contact. To get optimum plant spacing, reduce planting speeds.
Achieving good results when planting corn-on-corn starts with choosing the right hybrids. Some simply work better than others. Decades of corn research at Wyffels have led to a proven lineup strong on the agronomic characteristics and value traits you need for growing continuous corn.
When it comes to planning a solid strategy for growing continuous corn on your farm, we can help. Visit the Contact Us section of this site or the Wyffels sales manager for your area.
Agrisure® is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Genuity®, SmartStax®, VT Triple PRO®, YieldGard® and YieldGard VT® Triple are trademarks of Monsanto Technology, LLC.
10 Tips For Success:
1. Plant hybrids proven for corn-on-corn environments.
2. Plant hybrids with strong emergence and early vigor ratings.
3. Plant hybrids with strong plant and foliar disease tolerance.
4. Plant hybrids that establish an effective root mass.
5. Plant hybrids with stability, both in yield and harvestability.
6. Utilize an effective nitrogen management plan.
7. Provide effective corn rootworm protection or consider planting Wyffels hybrids with Agrisure 3000GT, Herculex XTRA, Genuity SmartStax, Genuity VT Triple PRO, or YieldGard VT Triple technology for in-the-seed corn rootworm and ECB protection.
8. Rotate hybrids on a specific acreage from year to year.
9. Check that soil temperature is 50 degrees or higher when planting.
10. Ensure proper seed-to-soil contact and reduce planting speed to ensure accurate plant spacing.