Corn Production

Growing corn isn’t just as simple as planting seed, hoping for rain and warm temps and then harvesting. You have to choose when you’ll plant, when you’ll spray, what nutrients you’ll apply, what hybrids you’ll plant and a multitude of other factors.

May 15, 2012

blog

The Rule of Ten

The lead-in to this topic came from a farmer who had heard me speak about the Rule of 10 a number of years ago, and had experienced it in his own business. The gentleman is over 50, and has operated the farm for more than 30 years. Let’s explain the rule....More
May 15, 2012

blog

May 10 USDA Reports Bring Mixed Results

The USDA Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WADSE) reports released May 10 were regarded as bearish for the corn market and bullish for the soybean market in the coming months. Corn stocks are expected to double by the end of the 2012-2013 crop marketing year, while the ending soybean stocks are expected to be at the tightest level on record by the end of the 2012-2013 marketing year, which runs from Sept. 1, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2013....More
May 15, 2012

blog

3 Things to Watch After May USDA Reports: Corn Yield, Soybean Acreage, Corn Feed/Residual Use

USDA reports frequently move markets and last week’s first supply/demand for the 2012 grain and oilseed crops was no exception. The day of the report, July corn closed down 20¢/bu. and cotton down 4¢/lb., while July beans closed 25¢/bu. higher and wheat 1¢ higher. Despite the immediate market reaction to the numbers, some aspects of the reports are debatable. Here are a few numbers Brock analysts expect to change....More
May 15, 2012

Article

May 14 Crop Progress: Corn More Than Half Emerged; Soybeans Nearly Half Planted

U.S. farmers continue to be busy in the fields, making good progress getting the 2012 corn crop 87% planted and the soybeans 46% planted, according to the May 14 USDA Crop Progress report. This is 21 and 22 points, respectively, ahead of the five-year average....More
May 15, 2012

Article

7 Causes for Corn Emergence Problems

Corn planting is nearing completion in Ohio. Across the state and within localized areas, corn is at a range of growth stages. Some of the corn planted in April is showing up to 4 leaf collars but in later-planted fields, corn is still emerging. Troubleshooting emergence problems early is critical in identifying solutions and developing successful replant plans, if needed....More
May 14, 2012

Article

Corn Market Direction Unfolding; Magnitude Still Uncertain

The USDA’s projections of U.S. and world corn and feed grain supply-and-demand conditions presented in the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report set the benchmark by which the corn market will judge unfolding events. According to Darrel Good, a University of Illinois agricultural economist, those events are continually unfolding, with some of the more important ones to be revealed this summer....More
May 14, 2012

Article

Monitor Weed Control with Aerial Imagery

It’s been another abnormal spring and many farmers have had to adjust some of their management practices. Specifically, the combination of the unusual weather and a need to get control of glyphosate-resistant weeds has increased the need to more closely scrutinize weed-management programs....More
May 14, 2012

Article

Tips for Nitrogen, Herbicide Application on Emerged Corn

The rapid pace of planting in late April followed by rain has resulted in many fields having emerged corn before pre-emergence herbicide and nitrogen applications have been completed. Of particular concern are no-till fields where planting was completed prior to killing emerged weeds....More
May 11, 2012

Article

Eye On Crops: May 11, 2012

We started planting soybeans on Thursday. After getting nearly 5 in. of rain, the conditions were surprisingly good. Nearly all of our corn acres are emerging and it looks to be off to a good start, except for where the water ponded....More
May 11, 2012

Article

Markets Plead for Soybeans; Farmers Have Time to Respond

Much has happened since early March that could sway farmers to take advantage of an increasing market for soybeans and plant more of the crop – a change that could help improve projections of decades-low supplies, says Chris Hurt, a Purdue University Extension agricultural economist....More