2014 LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com November 4, 2014 45
Down corn and fallen ears obviously
affect yield. While the dream come true
for a farmer would
be a corn that stands
well regardless of the
weather conditions, not
all hybrids are going
to give them that.
Looking at the corn
physically in the field,
comparing the yield
in bushels and the
dryness of the grain,
can offer some insight
as to what worked well
and what didn’t in this
particular year.
While farmers don’t
yet have a crystal ball
that tells them what
next year will bring, what they can have
is a history of what hybrids performed
consistently well in certain fields under a
variety of conditions.
Not everything is determined by the
weather or the hybrid. If a field has trouble
spots, the monitoring system will record
that. If the same area has a problem next
year, a yield history is in the making. Over
time, the monitoring system which transfers
data to the home computer will tell the
farmer what he may be able to expect from
a certain field.
If one uses this information coupled with
field mapping and soil test mapping, the
producer can create a scientific profile
of that field. With such information, the
producer can make smarter choices on
tillage practices, fertilizers, and seed that
should be grown there.
Another great
innovation in the
evolution of the
combine is the
adjustable spreader.
Everyone knows
that crop waste is
discharged out the back
of the combine, but
how that waste falls
on the field is now
something that can
be controlled through
automated settings
inside the combine.
For many, the waste
product will become residue in the field.
Residue has value as it can deter soil
erosion, or it can be tilled under to help
break up compacted soils and provide
some soil nutrient value. With a wet year,
compaction will be an issue and crop
Continued
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