20-INCH ROWS, 33,500 PLANTS, 301 BUSHELS
If you should stop by the farm of Richard M. Smith & Sons
near Medina, Ohio this summer, you’d likely see an outstanding
example of thick corn planting and what can happen under
favorable conditions.
For the past six years the Smiths have planted a one acre
plot of corn in 20-inch rows on bottom land soil. They attain a
plant population of about 33,500. This is done by setting the
planter to drop a kernel every 7 inches.
This exceptional acre yielded 301 bushels. His harvest stalk
count on 40-inch rows was 20,000 per acre.
Admittedly, this plot is experimental, but it’s an attempt to
see what can be done. The Smiths account for their yields this
way:
“First we put on lots of manure ... at least 100 tons. Then
we plowed down 1,000 pounds of 12-12-12. We plowed only
once.
“At planting we applied 500 pounds of 6-24-12 with the
planter. This past year we sprayed with Atrazine and didn’t
cultivate. At silking time we irrigated with urea dissolved in
river water. We applied 125 pounds of actual nitrogen.”
To irrigate with urea they dump it into a barrel to dissolve.
Then they use a suction pump to take the fertilizer solution out
of the barrel where it is mixed with more water and sprayed on
the field.
To get 20-inch rows they use a standard 2-row planter set for
40-inch rows, then swing the drawbar and go over the field
again in the same tracks.
Mr. Smith in commenting on this experimental plot ob
served: “This would be practical if it could be harvests! by
machine.”
But the Smiths don’t only get tremendous yields on “soujred
up” experimental plots; they attain big yields on all of their
cropland. In 1962 they averaged 150 bushels on the upland
fields and 186 bushels on river Irottom fields. Here’s the com
growing program they followed this past year on their 61 atTes
of com grown for grain, as well as the 16 silage acres.
1. They spread sawdust and sloppy manure all winter . . .
whenever weather and ground permitted.
mey spit-au juu jm Minus ui on me oonorn land
that is in continuous com. Tire upland got 400 pounds per acre*
They spread just ahead of plowing.
3. Good plowing at the right time. This is one of the most
important keys to getting high cum yields. Smiths Ixlieve.
“Were never in a hurry to plow,” Smith says. “We like* to plow
when it’s not too wet, yet just ahead of planting. In fact, we
like to plow one day and plant the* next.
“If the ground is plowed at the right moisture, one disking
is enough. Once over with a double disk and our ground is
ready for planting.”
4. At planting, 6-24-12 was applied at the* rate of 2.'>0 pounds
per acre.
5. Used chemical weed control. This year they used Atra
zine on the bottom land, 2-4D on the upland.
“We’ve had continuous com in our river bottom for the*
past four years and it gets better every year,” observed Smith
On the uplands the Smiths use* a rotation system. “We leave
the meadows as long as they’re good; some of ’em are 8 to 10
years old,” he said. “We re-seed after com with alfalfa-brume"
One thing’s for sure with the Smiths, when there’s a chance
for boosting com yields through improved methcxls, they’ll
give it a try. “We try to do the same thing in our dairy opera
tion. We can’t afford to do otherwise,” he says.
What happens in “ail out”
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Natural Bridge, N.Y.
Last year Keith Smith, Jasper, Michigan had a yield check
showing 165.8 bushels per acre in a test area . . . and his whole
crop from nearly 100 acres averaged out an even 150 bushels
“This is a jump of 20.8 bushels per acre from my yield check a
year ago,” says Smith.
Smith is a young farmer who aims for top efficiency as he
steadily expands his business. Already the owner of 120 acres,
he rents an additional 60 and he pushes for top yields of both
com and wheat on all the land he handles. He is now feeding
100 head of beef cattle and is working on plans to expand to
around 300 head.
Using a special fertilizer program for corn, Keith Smith is
following fertilizer recommendations based on a complete test
of the soils in each field. Last year he applied 400 lbs. of 5-20-20
per acre at the row, placing fertilizer to one side and below
the seed. Then he followed with a sidedress application of an
hydrous ammonia. For continuous com he figures a minimum
of 100 pounds of actual nitrogen is probably needed in addi
tion to the 20 lbs. or so contributed by the row application of
fertilizer.
On his naturally fertile soils, Keith plants 21,000 kernels to
the acre, aiming for a harvest time population of 18,500 to 19,
000 ear bearing stalks. His high yielding com in 1962 was one
of the single crosses. With his fertilizer program, this single
cross produced sound, well-filled uniform ears at the high popu
lation needed for 150+ bushels com.
The program Smith follows is well within the reach of most
Top Farmers in the Midwest.
150 + BUSHELS PER ACRE
