There are a lot of “small” things that, taken together, can sway corn yield up or down, says LG Seeds Agronomist Steve Crafton. To push crop yields higher, farmers need to be proactive with their management throughout the growing season — and beyond. 

Place the right seed on every acre

“The start is critical to determining corn yield potential,” Crafton says. That begins with choosing the right seed for every acre. “Good product placement can easily gain or cost you 6 to 8 bushels an acre.”

Farmers need to have conversations with their seed representatives and agronomists during the winter months, going through field-by-field placement and making sure hybrid characteristics are right for each acre. “Being proactive and taking time during the offseason to plan your seed strategy can add bushels.” 

A good seed treatment to protect seeds against early season pests and soilborne diseases should also be part of planning. Many LG Seeds’ corn hybrids are treated with Vayantis® fungicide, protecting plants against pythium and yield loss.

Check field conditions and planter settings

Farmers need to do all that they can to ensure strong, even emergence within seven to 10 days of planting. Soil temperatures should be at least 50 degrees, and the ground shouldn’t be too wet. Planting depth should provide good seed-to-soil contact into moisture for strong plant growth. Farmers should check down pressure and seeding depth often — from field to field, from soil type to soil type, and from morning to afternoon. 

Not doing so can be costly. Crafton conducted analysis this growing season on down pressure, and the results were striking. Ears from corn plants seeded to an improper depth were about a third shorter than ears from plants seeded to the proper depth.

“A good seed bed is so important,” Crafton says. “If you have an issue and you have to replant, that’s more fuel, more labor and added expenses.” He encourages patience, slowing down a bit and making sure to do things right the first time.

Be proactive with fungicide and nitrogen applications

Another way farmers can be proactive and add yield is with a V5 fungicide application. Some diseases like tar tar spot infect plants early on. “If we can keep those plants clean up to pollination with a V5 fungicide application, that’s huge,” Crafton says. “Add a fungicide to your herbicide application that occurs around that same time.”

Another fungicide application around the V12 stage of growth can extend that protection and help keep the upper leaves clean as the plant works to fill grain. Nitrogen applications later in the season via Y-drops or side dressing can also be beneficial. 

“We want to make sure corn has all that it needs to take full advantage of the grain fill period,” Crafton says. He believes hybrids’ ability to fill big, deep kernels late in the season has been a major contributor in farmers’ ability to push average corn yields into the 250 bushels to 270 bushels an acre range.

Be ready to harvest

Keeping corn plants healthy and disease-free all the way to harvest also aids late-season standability. That, too, helps farmers bring in more bushels.

Timely harvest is also important to bringing in as many bushels of corn as possible. The 2024 season drove that home, with crops in many areas drying down fast. Crafton recommends harvesting corn fields at 18% to 22% moisture, if possible.

Building yield is a season-long effort and the culmination of many decisions. For more support with seed choices and getting the most out of those products, reach out to your local LG Seeds agronomist.