Short Corn Varieties

 

Harvest has started and farmers were making considerable progress until the recent rains. Most farmers welcomed the rain since we have been in a major drought. For most corn and soybeans crops, the rain is probably too late, but it may help on late or double crop soybeans (planted after wheat) and for new wheat or cover crops being planted this fall. Of course, fruit trees, lawns, and other vegetation needed the rain.

On crop harvest, it’s the first time I heard soybeans being harvested at 5-6% moisture and corn at 11% moisture! Normally, ideal moisture for soybeans is 14% and corn 15%. Harvesting at low moisture reduces yields at least 4-6%, so many farmers stopped harvesting or waited until nightfall to gain moisture. Depending upon how much rain was received, harvested moisture levels now are probably closer to normal.

Looking forward to the future, once harvest is complete, farmers will start to plan for next year’s crops. A recent development is the research being done by Bayer Crop Science, Corteva, Stine seeds, and other companies to breed dwarf or short corn. Most corn is 7 to 9 feet tall, but growing short corn offers several benefits. So, do not be surprised if field corn starts to look shorter in the future, more like sweet corn. Field corn is grown on over 90 million acres in the USA and around 3-3.5 million acres in Ohio. Corn is used for livestock feed, to make ethanol for fuel, or exported.

One big benefit of short corn is that the stalks are shorter and sturdier. This means the stalks can survive high winds, up to 50 mph or more. Each year, high winds and windstorms damage corn crops, causing them to lodge or even snap off. The advantage of shorter corn is that they are better able to withstand high winds or derechos.

Second, short corn has more upright leaves, which allows the corn to better capture sunlight, which can increase corn yields. Plus, since the corn is shorter and sturdier with upright leaves, the corn population may be increased, leading to a higher number of corn ears harvested per acre, higher yields, and hopefully higher profits per acre. With today’s prices, that may be harder to achieve, but hopefully our crop markets will improve in the future.

Another advantage is that shorter corn allows for fungicides, herbicides, and cover crop seed to be applied much easier. High boy equipment currently needs large, tall wheels and that is expensive, but even drones, airplanes, and helicopters will be able to apply inputs much easier for better coverage on short corn. Short corn is also more drought resistant because it takes less water to maintain a shorter plant. Short corn may also be able to withstand higher temperatures that often occur with a drought.

There are some disadvantages to short corn. A corn crop that grows closer to the ground may pick up more soil-born mold and disease because the leaves are closer to the ground. Ear rot fungi live in the soil and their spores are spread by wind and rain. Insects also spread mold spores by infecting the silks and infecting wounds in the plant. Ear rots like Aspergillus, Diplodia, Fusarium, and Gibberella originate from crop residue and the soil.

Corn soil diseases include Tar Spot, Gray Leaf Spot, Northern Corn Blight, Anthracnose, and Southern Leaf Blight. Crop rotation and getting the crop residue to decompose quickly reduces corn mold infections that cause ear rots and other soil-borne corn diseases. Short corn can also be hurt by heavy rains which may cause goose necking.

Dairy and beef farmers who harvest corn for silage may not be using dwarf or short corn. Silage corn is generally taller and planted thicker for high tonnage. Ruminant animals use the fiber and all parts of the plant for their nutrition. Most corn sugars are located throughout the plant and farmers want the sugar and high tonnage, so dwarf corn is not a real advantage for silage. Beef cattle may be fed corn for grain to fatten them, but before they are fattened, getting the animal to grow bigger for a larger frame is the first priority. They may use silage corn to build frame and then fatten the cattle on short corn for grain in later stages.

Corn is a high-input crop and generally takes more fertilizer and other inputs than soybeans and wheat. New corn research developments may help farmers remain profitable. Watch out for semi-trucks, combines, tractors, and grain carts this fall, and let’s have a safe harvest. Sources include No-till Farmer and Strip-till Strategies.