Producers Blog
Facts from the Field
Mike Gade (DSM, Region 2 – Minnesota)
As I reflect on this past year and jump right into harvest here in Minnesota, I want to share a few items that I have seen.
Fall applied urea is showing a negative in the yield category in a lot of fields, and some fields show a lot of bug activity causing a negative in plant health and yield. Growers who planted traited hybrids plus applied an insecticide program got rewarded in a positive way as far as ear size and yield. It appears to be more than 30 bushels/acre in some fields. Growers who are doing multiple feedings of nutrients are saving dollars per acre, receiving yield increases and getting more returns of the dollars invested per acre. It looks like we need to look at practices that were used in the past, such as side dressing anhydrous and cultivating in 28% to get maximum yields per acre. It is important to take a look at the last year as we look forward to 2014. If you have any questions, please contact your local District Sales Manager or Sales Agronomist.
Wishing all of you a safe and prosperous harvest.
