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26 Oct 2023

Taking Stock of Your Stover: How to Utilize and Manage Corn Residue

Modern corn hybrids are way different than the first commercialized hybrid seed corn sold to farmers around 100 years ago. And they’re also pretty different from what Dad and Grandad used to plant.

Picking LG Seeds hybrids with that extra “oomph,” getting clever with our soil strategies and cranking up those planting populations have created bin-busting yields in recent years.

Yet when the yield party winds down and grain leaves the field, there’s something still out there dancing the night away.

Corn stover.

As yields go up, so do corn residue amounts. Why? Fungicides, Bt traits and no-till practices have transformed modern agriculture. But these field heroes have their quirks—they slow down the natural cleanup crew, leaving fields brimming with leftover bits as harvest season rolls to a close.

Championing Soil Conservation

Soil conservation practices are our best friends. There’s only so much topsoil in our fields. That’s why no-till and minimum-till techniques are so important. They shield us from soil erosion, amp up moisture retention and water infiltration, and boost soil health. 

However, too much residue can create a sticky situation.

Corn residue acts as a shiny mirror that reflects sunlight right off the soil. Then when it’s time for planters to roll out in the spring, soils stay damp and chilly—not exactly ideal conditions for our new crop to thrive. These conditions can lead to poor germination, uneven seed depth and a vulnerability to seedling diseases.

You know the drill: non-uniform emergence turns into a dip in yield potential. And if you’re constantly pushing for earlier planting, these issues get even thornier.

How can we balance the need for soil conservation while maintaining the best possible environment for next year’s crop? Here are some thoughts from your reliable partner in the field:

Mastering Residue Management

Managing excess corn residue kicks off at harvest time. 

Make sure your combine is tuned up and ready to roll. Check your chaff and stalk distribution—you want it spread nice and even. Some combines even have options to chop stalks into bite-sized bits. 

Why is this important? Smaller pieces lead to faster decomposition and fewer headaches when you're planting and tilling.

Tillage is another way to manage corn residue, and you've got lots of options—conventional disks, deep chisel, mulch rippers, vertical tillage and strip tillage. Just take your pick. 

Both vertical tillage and strip tillage tend to offer more soil conservation benefits. Vertical tillage, for example, slices through stalks and root balls, leaving smaller, more manageable pieces. 

Strip tillage is the sweet spot between no-till and full-on tillage, giving us loose, granulated soil in a narrow band. Plus, it creates an excellent area for adding nutrients.

Of course, there’s always Old Reliable—fall tillage. More time means more residue breakdown. It’s as simple as that.

Got cattle? Grazing or baling stalks is an option, but don't remove everything: that residue holds precious nutrients that need to stay in the loop. If you clear it out, you’ll probably need some extra fertilizer.

When planting, consider using planter-mounted gadgets like coulters, clearing discs, sweeps, brushes or rolling fingers. These gizmos can clear a 10-inch path for your planting units and help ensure proper seed placement.

But don't just set 'em and forget 'em—check those settings. Disc angles, height and down pressure all help make sure these gadgets do their jobs correctly.

The Bottom Line

Excess residue might throw a few curveballs our way, but with a bit of know-how, we can turn it into an advantage. 

Uniform stands, a healthy crop and roaring success — that's the name of the game. So as you tackle your fields, remember the LG Seeds agronomy team is here as your reliable partner, ready to answer questions and rev up your residue management game.