DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2, 2011 – Recent rainfall across much of the Corn Belt has some growers wondering if they have enough nitrogen left in the soil for their corn crop. Agronomy experts with Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, say growers need to evaluate fields and, in some cases, develop a nitrogen rescue strategy.
“Each year presents new environmental challenges,” says John Shanahan, Pioneer agronomy research manager. “Nitrogen is the single most expensive input, which means there are numerous reasons to get it right – the right amount, the right timing on the right acres. Growers who don’t apply enough risk reduced yields.” Early-season nitrogen stress creates irreversible yield loss. According to the University of Kentucky, for each day of moisture saturation, 3 to 4 percent of nitrates in the soil are lost.
“Corn requires nearly half of its total nitrogen supply between V8 and tasseling,” Shanahan says. “Pioneer recommends side-dressing nitrogen between V4 and V8, allowing a safety margin for weather and soil conditions that delay nitrogen application or the movement of nitrogen to the roots.”
Soils tests are a useful tool for evaluating nitrogen in fields. Testing soils at least 12 inches deep can help indicate the amount of nitrogen currently available to the corn plant. Another option is to use optical sensors mounted on nitrogen application equipment.
Optical sensors emit modulated light of the appropriate wavelength onto plants and measure how much is reflected back to the sensor. This measure of “crop greenness” correlates with the plant chlorophyll content. Estimating chlorophyll content also estimates crop nitrogen status.
“A grower also can estimate nitrogen by answering some key questions,” Shanahan says. “When was the nitrogen applied, what form was used, how much was applied and what have field conditions been following the application.”
If a grower determines his or her corn crop is nitrogen deficient, an additional side-dress or rescue nitrogen application is an option.
“Because nitrogen is so expensive, side-dressing is a great option,” Shanahan says. “Spreading applications throughout the growing season reduces risk. If wet spring conditions result in nitrogen losses, growers can increase side-dress rates. If warm temperatures and moderate rainfall result in high nitrogen mineralization and a nitrogen-sufficient crop, growers can reduce the side-dress rates.”
Growers who need a rescue application can apply nitrogen with a high-clearance sprayer using ammonium nitrate. Broadcasting urea is another nitrogen application option.
“Growers need to evaluate what type of equipment and nitrogen sources are available,” Shanahan says. “If a grower is going to make in-season applications, he or she needs to have a plan in place and work with their local applicator. Once the crop is about knee-high, ensuring sufficient nitrogen is a priority.”
Pioneer is developing nitrogen-efficient hybrids. Research focuses around improving the yield of corn using native and transgenic genes. In addition to improving the utilization of nitrogen, researchers are working to lower the level of nitrogen inputs while maintaining yield.
“At Pioneer, we look at several ways to utilize nitrogen – through genetics and management techniques,” Shanahan says. “Enhancing nitrogen utilization is beneficial both economically and environmentally.”

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)–Missouri corn farmers joined growers across the nation today to launch a summer educational campaign designed to bring the message of modern family farmers to Washington, D.C.  The kick off marks the third year members of the Corn Farmers Coalition have reached out to policymakers, opinion leaders and consumers inside the Beltway to showcase the corn industry and its positive contributions to the U.S. economy.

“As corn growers, we need to keep sharing our stories and experiences with the people making decisions that impact our daily lives,” says Billy Thiel, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) chairman from Marshall, Mo., and one of the farmers featured in the campaign.  “We want people to better understand how advancements in today’s farming practices are helping corn growers produce a safe, abundant crop for families all over the world.”

The Corn Farmers Coalition’s newest advertising campaign displays prominent facts about the corn industry in Capitol Hill publications, radio, online and the Metro and Reagan National Airport.  Designed to provide information on productivity and environmental advancements, the popular initiative showcasing corn farmers and their families will continue until Congress recesses in August.

Corn growers will also meet with members of Congress, environmental groups and others to discuss modern advancements in the corn industry.  The main topics center on how U.S. farmers are using the latest technology to expand corn production capabilities, preserve the land and provide a strong economic baseline in a struggling economy.

“The science and technology corn farmers are using today help meet the needs of a growing population,” Thiel says.  “When I first started farming in 1974, if we harvested 125 bushels of corn per acre it was considered an excellent crop.  Today, 200 bushels per acre is more the norm than the exception.  Compared to how my father farmed, we are growing more corn on fewer acres using less water and nutrients.  These are some of the great success stories we need to be sharing.”

MCMC joined 13 other corn associations and the National Corn Growers Association to establish the Corn Farmers Coalition.  To view this year’s Corn Farmers Coalition ads, or learn more, visit www.cornfarmerscoalition.org For more information on Missouri’s corn crop and the farmers who produce it, click on www.mocorn.org.

 

Growers now have the ability to access crop management resources, customized information and other tools while in the field from their phone. Pioneer Hi-Bred is delivering information growers can use to make management decisions on the go by offering a mobile-optimized version for the iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Blackberry and other feature phones.

Pioneer Senior Marketing Manager Monica Patterson says the mobile version provides geography-specific content that helps growers complete many tasks – such as identifying pests while scouting in fields. It also provides customers with tools to access field-by-field records to track growth stages, accumulated growing degree units and precipitation on the go.

To learn more about the new, mobile-optimized website – growers can contact their local Pioneer sales professional or visit Pioneer’s website.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program. During these 20 years – more than 130 regional winners have been selected for caring for the land; protecting water; enhancing wildlife; fostering innovation; improving grazing; building partnerships; telling the story; and leaving a legacy.

Stan Howell – Vice President of North America for DowAgrosciences – a primary sponsor of the award – says the award not only honors outstanding cattle-producing families – but also encourages others to be good stewards of the land. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is also a sponsor of the award program.

Dave Petty – past award winner – says no one knows how to care for the land better than the families who live and work on America’s ranches and farms. A new documentary salutes the winners of the past 20 years and allows their story to be told once again.

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will ring the opening bell at USDA’s 16th annual farmers market season at USDA headquarters Friday. He will also signal the official debut of D.C. Central Kitchen’s Truck Farm with a ribbon-cutting. The Truck Farm – a garden in the back of a 2002 Dodge Ram – is a traveling, edible exhibit that teaches urban kids about healthy food.

There are several other activities planned for Friday as well. The People’s Garden is hosting a Kids Corner with seed planting. The Veterinarian Division of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service will host an information booth for visitors – and Feds Feed Families will have folks on hand to start their summer food drive for food banks across the National Capital Region and around the country.

National Farmers Union is partnering with Home Grown Cow to not only provide an opportunity for family farmers and ranchers to create additional revenue and market their products to a larger market – but also enable consumers to know the farmer they purchase their produce from. Home Grown Cow is a website that allows consumers to browse products by location and farming style – connecting producers directly to their consumers. John Aikman – CEO of Home Grown Cow – says everybody wins in this partnership.

Ohio Representative Marcy Kaptur successful restored some funding for the Rural Energy for America Program – or REAP – during Tuesday’s House Appropriations Committee meeting on the ag spending bill. The Ag Appropriations Subcommittee had eliminated all REAP funding the previous week – but Kaptur and her colleagues were able to restore 1.3-million dollars for fiscal year 2012. Environmental Law and Policy Center Senior Policy Advocate Andy Olsen says keeping the program alive will benefit greenhouse growers, dairy farmers, solar manufacturers and other businesses in the heartland.

The next actions will occur when the full House considers appropriations and in the Senate – where work on ag funding has not started. The ELPC expects the Senate to propose higher funding for REAP.

REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The program has funded projects across a diverse range of agricultural sectors in every state.

The Public Patent Foundation has filed an amended complaint on behalf of family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations against Monsanto’s genetically modified seed patents. The original suit – filed in March – questions whether or not Monsanto has the right to sue for patent infringement if the company’s transgenic seed or pollen lands on a farmer’s property. The foundation is asking it be declared that organic farmers can’t be accused of infringement if their fields are contaminated by Monsanto’s GMOs. The plaintiffs in the suit feel Monsanto has not addressed their concerns in a reasonable manner and believe their lawsuit needs to move forward.

A few college degrees that fall under the agricultural umbrella recently made the list of twenty most useless college degrees in The Daily Beast. Kay Johnson Smith – Animal Agriculture Alliance Executive Vice President – says the article is laughable to those who understand the importance of agriculture – but she fears it could deter potential farmers, botanists or animal scientists from the field. Smith says the article is a reminder of why everyone must do their part to help bridge the urban-rural gap.

Young people from all walks of life need to be encouraged to pursue a career in the ag industry – Smith says – noting the aging farming population. She emphasizes that the industry isn’t just a college major or career – but a way of life impacting millions of people around the globe every time they sit down to eat. She says food production is a key to the nation’s security – and the world’s – since the UN estimates food production will need to increase by 70-percent throughout the next 40 years. Smith says telling the story of America’s farmers and ranchers – how they are contributing to solving the global food supply challenge – is very important.