(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

corn question

P

Pitch

Well-known Member
Is there some advantage/disadvantage to tall corn?
I thought that growing shorter varieties of corn was becoming the norm. I was out back last night and the guy on my west side has corn that is 8 or 9 feet. Is that not more likely to be blown over? Seems as though putting that many resources into stalk instead of crop would be inefficent
 
All the fields around us are taller than normal, I think it's because of ideal weather. Last year when we had a drought the farm that does corn mazes had corn so short you could see over it, I was surprised they bothered making a maze.
 
this year corn was planted for the most part ideally and then we have had rain and more rain and the corn plant has had ideal growing conditions so the nutrient uptake was very good . the corn plant has never really stressed and with what I previously said the corn has never shutdown and does seem little taller this year. but a healthy plant has good leaf surface and that"s how the plant converts sunlight and feeds.
 
Pitch, Like Allan said, Silage Production! Taller Corn = Extra Tonage and that is what you are Paid on!
Later,
John A.
 
The height of the corn has little to do with the final yield. Yes most of today's hybrids do not get as tall as corn did years ago.

Several other things on corn height.

1) Corn planted later will many times be taller than early planted corn of the same hybrid. Never knew the why just that it does happen.

2) Like others have stated the corn you are seeing could be silage corn.

3) The energy used to make the corn taller would come from ear production on paper. In real life it does not always happen that way. Many times the tall corn is a sign of a GREAT growing season and the tall corn will be the higher yielding corn.

You will find that every growing season is different in some way. What works great one year may bust the next. The old saying about the average farmer getting to try about forty times is about right.
 
It always seemed to me that the combine tank filled quicker in tall corn than in short corn, but I have been known to be wrong. Joe
 
Agree with the others, planted late, or silage corn, or old open pollinated corn tends to get taller.

Several agronomy meets I've been to said the same thing - short corn would be a better thing for grain, however as they breed plants the tall ones get more sunlight and thus bigger yields so the tall trait stays in our hybrids because they follow along with better yields.

If the plant breeders had the time and money, to develop a shorter corn with the same yielding genetics, would be a better thing, but it doesn't happen easily in the current way we select breeds.

Paul
 
Usually, the taller the stock, the bigger the ear. Last year, I had some short corn and it made ears that were 12x32 at best. My tallest corn made 16x40 ears and 2 of them per stock. I yielded 268 bushel per acre on that 3 acre field.

This year, I have seen some corn that is 13 foot high, and is making 3 ears per stock.
 
Picture of gleaner F2 in 268 bpa corn. Tops of tassles were as high as lights on combine.

19297.jpg


I wish all my fields looked like this.
 
Much of the energy stored in the stalk is later moved to the ear. To me it makes sense that if the stalk is healthy and robust through pollination the ear will probably fill out pretty well even if you have less than ideal moisture. Personally I like tall corn. My tall corn seems to be my best corn.
 

True.


I got 40 times to plant corn before I die.


I trust Missy Bauer...


You can trust her too. She wouldn't lie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

3
Corn growing question
Replies
12
Views
2K
Muir hill 101
M
N
One other question on a Gleaner K2
Replies
6
Views
1K
Timmycornpicker
T
B
2 ton+ grass with a haybine
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
730virgil
7
C
Combine purchasing time
Replies
13
Views
4K
Leroy
L
D
Rotary hoeing
Replies
14
Views
515
rockyridgefarm
rockyridgefarm
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top