We saw record planting progress with a majority of the corn planted in 12 days and given that this crop will spend more days subjected to pest pressures, it will be important to manage the plagues and pestilence during the growing season. It's important to evaluate your input decisions to maximize yield and return on investment. Input scrutiny is on the minds of many even with a nice commodity rally during the month of April.
During the last couple of years, we were able to try a number of new practices with good commodity prices. However, as commodity prices decline the tendency of some is to pull back on expenses and manage through some tighter times. Those inputs protect your investment and increase your return on investment. As I mentioned back in an earlier article from February, the greatest expense continues to be seed selection. The highest yield potential of that hybrid and variety is when it's still in the bag. Now that that kernel or seed is in the ground it starts to lose yield due to the abiotic or biotic pressures. Your FS Crop Specialist is a great resource to manage those yield robbing pressures in the coming months.
There continues to be a major focus on implementing effective weed control management programs. The execution of that system can protect up to six bushels of yield depending on crop and weed pressure, not to mention the importance to manage or mitigate the continued threat and spread of herbicide resistant weeds. New tools are coming and it will be important to implement product stewardship and management programs to preserve them.
Proper fertility levels are critical to maximize yield potential. The yield loss due to insufficient levels of nutrients will vary by crop and nutrient. Your FS Crop Specialist has a number of tools to monitor, rectify the response, and provide a solution to correct the nutrient deficiency. They know your fields and can recommend a well-balanced nutrient program that minimizes yield loss by prescribing the right products to maximize the output and investment.
Fungicide and insecticide applications are dependent upon the occurrence and presence of yield robbing insects or diseases. Last year the application of fungicides increased yield due to wide spread occurrence of corn and soybean disease across the Midwest. Yield reports ranging from 8-20 bushels was common from the addition of a fungicide. Today, producers need to be proactive before yield levels are impacted. A proactive decision should protect yield during the growing season and improve harvest. Managing plant health will be critical to eliminate harvest loss and maximize harvest efficiency by preserving stalk strength and grain quality this fall.
It's a team effort to protect and maximize yields. Your FS Crop Specialist can help you manage your farming practice and provide the solutions you need from a trusted resource that's invested in making your operation profitable.
Orginally published in the Illinois Farm Bureau FarmWeek, Jeff Bunting serves the FS system as GROWMARK's crop protection division manager. He can be reached at [email protected]