1 Texas Liquid Fertilizer Corn 2007

2 TLF Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability

3 TLF Commitment to You: Corn Field Inspections: – over 2,000 in three years Plant Analysis: – 166 in 2006 Weather Stations; – located in El Campo, Dayton, Holland, Bryan DSS Acres – 41,543 acres in three years

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5 TLF DSS Results in 2006 Yields ranged from 180 to 30 bushels per acre Highest yields came from corn planted on or before March 2nd Planting date was the most limiting factor in 2006

6 TLF Weather Stations Bell Co./ Holland: Liberty Co./ Dayton: Wharton Co./ El Campo Brazos Co./ Bryan

7 Weather Stations for 2006 Each station reports 25 different readings Daily report gives 48-hr forecast – Air tempts, wind speed, precipitation, cloud cover, leaf wetness – 2”, 4”, 8” soil depth temperatures Daily report gives one to seven day forecast plus 8 to 10 day outlook Use to predict planting dates, spray dates, disease forecasts; review historical data

8 Weather Stations Give Historical Info Corn can be planted when forecast is more than 40 DD in the next five days; increasing not decreasing 1 st available planting date in 2006

9 Weather Stations Give Historical Info

10 High Tempts Hurt Corn Pollination Drop-dead date for pollination

11 Corn Planting Dates in 2006

12 High Tempts Hurt Corn Pollination Location Plant DateHybridTraits days to 50% silk date of mid- silk Avg. daily tempt 0 FHDTW Yield Bu/a Granger 14- Mar Dyna-Gro 57P12 RR/YGC B May8031-Jul Wharton 2- Mar Dyna-Gro 57P12 RR/YGC B656-May Aug Location Plant DateHybridTraits days to 50% silk date of mid- silk Avg. daily tempt 0 FHDTW Yield Bu/a Granger 14- Mar Pioneer 31G68Bt May8131-Jul Wharton 2- Mar Pioneer 31G68Bt657-May Aug Texas A&M, 2006

13 Corn Marketsfor TLF Corn North; includes Bell, Burleson, Brazos and Liberty Corn South: Wharton About 160 miles between Holland (Bell Co. ) and El Campo (Wharton Co.) Weather station data suggests that all Texas non-irrigated can be grouped: corn data can be placed together for analysis.

14 Climate Data for Four Years Corn needs about 26 inches of useable water El Campo TX rain Jan Feb March April May June July Totals

15 Climate Data for Four Years Bryan TX rain Jan Feb March April May June July Total Corn needs about 26 inches of useable water

16 Climate Data for Four Years El Campo GDU/month Feb March April May June July Total3,9063,8073,8864,083

17 Climate Data for Four Years Bryan TX GDU/month Base February March April May June July Total4,0413,9504,1064,104

18 Crop Summary Planting date was the most significant factor in Rainfall was the second highest in the past four years The optimum planting date was about average for three of the past four years. The DSS data base from 2006 included 316 fields consisting of 18,287 acres.

19 Corn Recommendations for 2007 Fertility Hybrid Selection Seed Treatments Seeding Rates Tillage Row Direction

20 Texas Corn Fertility Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium Sulfur Zinc Boron

21 Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

22 Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

23 Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

24 Corn Fertility 2006 Summary

25 Corn Fertility 2006 Summary Boron was low early P and K were higher in the higher yield group in the non-irrigated Nitrogen and sulfur were higher in the higher yield group in the irrigated

26 Low Boron Levels in Corn Boron is responsible for healthy root growth. Sufficient boron levels enables plants to become resistant to diseases of many types. A lack of boron in a corn plant results in: – Poor kernel development. – The deterioration of root and stem growing points. – Stunted roots. Boron deficient corn at left; note twisting of kernels toward tip.

27 Corn Fertility – Irr N Amounts DSS, 2006 Highest yields in 2006 came from fields receiving 160 to 180 lbs. /acre N

28 Corn Fertility – P Amounts DSS, 2006 Highest yields in 2006 came from fields receiving 71 to 80 lbs. /acre P; Bu. /acre

29 Phosphates and Nitrogen in 2006 In 2006, an additional investment in P increases corn net profits by $50 per acre. Increasing P or N fertilizer never leveled corn yields out In TAMU corn hybrid plots in 2006, 130 lbs. /acre P plus 240 lbs. N averaged 194 bu. /acre irrigated corn in hybrid plots

30 Corn Fertility- Potash Potassium is critical: – For the plant health 11 to 20 lbs. /acre of sulfur increased yields by 9 bu. /A in DSS data. The potash fertilizer produced an additional net profit of $28/ acre.

31 Corn Fertility- Sulfur Sulfur is critical: – For the plant to utilize nitrogen 5 to 10 lbs. /acre of sulfur increased yields by 13 bu. /A in 2006 DSS data.

32 Fertility Program for Corn Non-irrigated – lbs. /A Nitrogen – 40 lbs. /A Phosphate – 10 lbs. /A Potash – 5 to 10 lbs. /A sulfur – 2.5 to 5 lbs. /A of zinc –.5 to 1.5 lbs. /A boron Irrigated – 200 to 240 lbs. /A Nitrogen – 80 lbs. /A Phosphate – 20 lbs. /A Potash – 10 to 20 lbs. /A sulfur – 2.5 to 5 lbs. /A of zinc –.5 to 1.5 lbs. /A boron

33 Corn Cultural Practices Hybrid Selection Seed Treatments Seeding Rates Planting Speed Planting Depth Aflatoxin Mgt.

34 Hybrid Selection 2006 DSS Non- Irrigated Hybridstraits Bu./ A Pioneer 31G96 RR HX LL125 Pioneer 31G65 RR HX LL114 Golden Acres 2841RR Bt DSS Irrigated Hybridstraits Bu./ A Garst 8225RR169 Garst 8377RR Bt154 Dyna-Gro 58K40RR142 Dyna-Gro 58K22RR139

35 Seed Treatments on Corn Results from DSS in 2006 Cruiser® produced 19 more bu. /acre corn in 2006 than the Poncho 250. Cruiser® contains Dynasty® fungicide which should be more available in 2007.

36 Corn Planting Rates Hybrid Planting Populations 2006 Irrigated (North) 28,500 Irrigated (South)26,000 Non-irrigated South21,000 North26,000

37 Planter Calibration Researchers claim a 10 to 15% reduction in yields by using poorly calibrated planters. Results showed an increase of up to 23 bushels per acre Uneven seed depth lowers yields by 5%

38 Planting Depth Affects Yields Shallow planting lowered yields by 11 bushels in Plant corn between 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.

39 Planting Depth Affects Yields Shallow planting caused less roots which caused a N deficiency. The plant on the right is still green. Shallow planting inhibits root development. Less roots means less available plant food.

40 Effect of Planting Speed

41 Harvest Management to Minimize Aflatoxin Minimize trash and broken kernels in combine hopper. Begin harvest when grain moisture is about 24% and dry the grain to 15% moisture as soon as possible. Thoroughly clean auger wells and pits around dump stations before and after use. Remove grain from trucks, trailers, holding bins, drying facilities and storage bins before beginning a new lot of grain.

42 Summary of Corn Practices Planting date was the most limiting factor in 2006; planting after March 2 lowered yields 63 bu/acre Fertilize with N&P according to your yield goals Order Dynasty® or Trilex® as seed fungicide treatment Watch planter speed and depth

43 TLF Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability