Verdict in on Short Corn: Good Yields
Published: Friday, November 8, 2024
Brian Renbarger's second-year experiment with short stature corn is complete. The 112-day "short" corn planted on 75 acres produced 238 bushels per acre, while 111-day traditional corn planted on 71 acres in the same field yielded 237 acres per bushel. The difference was minimal.
Short corn grows to about 7 feet in height, or about 3 feet shorter than traditional corn. According to Del Brinson, representative for DeKalb Seeds, short corn has a thicker stalk, which provides protection against high winds that may cause greensnap or downed corn. Another advantage is that sprayers can move over the top of the corn for late-season applications. This is important in areas where tar spot is an issue.
However, one concern Renbarger had prior to this season is whether the ears would be high enough for the combine to properly harvest them. The minimum requirement is 24 inches off the ground.
Last year, Renbarger grew 80 acres of short corn; this year, he wanted a larger sample size. In addition to the 75 acres harvested last Friday, a 60-acre field consisting of a 106-day hybrid was harvested on Oct. 19. That field yielded 233 bushels per acre.
The 75-acre field was harvested last Friday, one day after a quarter inch of rain fell on this portion of northern Howard County. I rode along with Sid Horner, a seven-year employee, as he drove a John Deere S780 combine with a 12-row head.
As Horner opened up the field, the machine easily pulled the stalks and ears into the auger. I looked behind at the grain tank to see the corn piling up. As it reached three-quarters full, Bryron Cardwell, a seasonal employee, pulled his tractor and grain cart alongside so Horner could "load on the go."
Horner and his wife Beth operate a small farm near Amboy. They have been married for 42 years and have a herd of Angus cattle. He plans to raise cattle for two more years and then turn the operation over to his son. At that point, he will have 60 years of experience in the cattle business.
Before climbing in the combine, Horner said he had to get the machine ready for operation. That involved checking the engine oil, adding fuel and grease, cleaning the windows and blowing out dust from the air filters.
Renbarger, his brother and nephew farm thousands of acres across several counties. As of last Friday, the end of harvest was in sight. They had 600 acres left to go, and it was finally time to bring in the 7-foot-tall corn.
Once Horner harvested the ends of the field, which required some maneuvering, he was able to take on the long rows. Following the guidance of the GPS system, he removed his feet from the pedals and allowed the combine to drive itself.
He turned his attention to the yield monitor, where a constant stream of data was displayed. The yields generally stayed within the range of 230 to 250 bushels per acre for this field.
Horner said the moisture content was around 16-17%. Although it had rained the day before, he said "it takes a lot of rain to get moisture back into grain."
Renbarger spent most of the day unloading semis at the home farm. He praised his workers for their tireless efforts. During the harvest season, some of them, including Horner, labored about 90 hours per week. Renbarger said they have been pushing hard over the past month or so.
For a few minutes, Renbarger talked about the economics of farming—how corn prices have declined from a high near $7 per bushel two years ago to now just under $4 per bushel. He said crop farmers are feeling pinched by high costs and low prices. Soybean prices are also down. Profits will be "ugly," he said.
All of his corn was going into the bins for storage. After they are filled, the excess will be sold to local elevators and an ethanol plant.
Another truck arrived with a load of corn to go in the bin. Renbarger waved the driver in and quickly opened the hoppers. As the grain poured out, we both watched. Then he reflected on growing short corn for the second year in a row.
He was pleased with the yields and said he wants to grow it again next year on more acres.
"We really like it," he said. "I want to do some tillage on that to see if it tills the same way it did last year. There is the same number of leaves as there is on the tall corn, but there is less stalk."
Leaf volume is important for photosynthesis, he said. He wants to make sure the plant material works into the soil and doesn't blow into the neighbors' yards.
"I don't like to have neighbors with their yards full of my corn stalks, and I don't know if this will change any of this or not," he said. "Right now, I like the fact that we can spray it (short corn) with our sprayer and on our timing."
As one truck departed, another one arrived. The unloading continued for another day, as harvest at the Renbarger farm pushed toward a conclusion. For the second year in a row, short corn held its own.
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