Corn Growers Look At Good Things In Small Packages
KALAMAZOO, Mich. Big
ger might be better in basketball
and body building, but when it
comes to selecting hybrid seed
corn, kernel size has little, if any,
effect on performance.
Provided com growers main
tain and adjust planters according
ly, research trials have consistent
ly indicated there is no significant
difference in performance
between small-sized seed com and
larger-sized seed of an identical
hybrid. While all com plants pro
duce some seed that fit any one of
eight different size and shape
categories, unusual growing con
ditions last season presented the
U.S. seed industry with higher
than-normal supplies of small
com seed this season. Because
small seed often is priced 5 to 10
percent below its average-sized
counterparts, this presents grow
ers with an economic advantage
for the upcoming season.
“Seed com size is controlled
initially by genetics, but subse
quently by environmental condi-
LET’S MAKE A CONNECTION...
• UHF/VHF/800
Jemarl
Vou can have the Hay Day of your life as
you watch a steady stream of bales flow
up the chute “energized by free com
pression” and tumble into the basket!
Then trip the lever and unload 100 bales
m 10 seconds by the barn conveyor as
you drive away to load it up again and
again...It’s so E-Z it's.. .incredible!
No other bale handling system com
pares with the simplicity and
maintenance-free method of E-Z Trail’s
Bale Basket!
Inquiries call (217) 543-3471 or write:
E-Z TRAIL INC.
P.O. BOX 268 ARTHUR, IL 61911
tions,” said William Reiss, Ph.D.,
technical services agronomist,
Asgrow Seed Company. “The
combination of heavy com borer
infestations and high incidence of
stalk and leaf diseases last season
stressed com plants during 1990.
The result is a larger-then-normal
amount of small-sized com seed
available industry wide this
season.”
DEKALB, m. Fanners who
plant com hybrids of differing
maturity have a greater chance of a
profitable harvest.
DEKALB Plant Genetics reg
ional agronomist Jim Schwartz
said planting three maturities
makes good agronomic sense and
helps com growers spread produc
tion risks.
“If you spread out your hybrid
maturities, you spread risks from
>uch factors as insects, diseases.
IL!
telL. The crisp sound of Motorola
Plant 3 Maturities, Spread
your needs
anty
uy
ANGLE
MMUNICATIONS
CO
10-828-2211
INESS TALKING”
4
Reiss said, “A com grower’s
primary concern in buying seed
com should be superior genetics
and high physiological quality.
After that, it’s important to keep
seedlot size uniform, and have the
planter properly maintained and
adjusted to handle the specific
kernel size being planted.”
In an effort to ensure top results
with Asgrow hybrids, the com
pany conducted plantability stu
md different weather patterns over
■be course of a year,” he said.
He advises growers to plant the
jest available hybrid in each
maturity group. They should select
nigh-yielding, strong-standing
nybrids that will be as dry as prac
ical at harvest.
Schwartz advises growers to
nlant early, medium, and full
jeason hybrids. A 25-50-25 ratio
,nf these maturities can help grow
ers maximize yields and reduce
READING
(215) 929-4211
GOOD NEWS...
FOR HAYMAKERS!
Hitch a Bale Basket to your
baler and you will never
need to load another bale
by hand!
dies in cooperation with Case IH
and John Deere. Results of these
tests indicate that modem com
planters have the capability to
plant any kernel size with the
accuracy that the fanner expects.
In a related study with John
Deere 7000 series planters, the
effect of planter condition and
speed demonstrated the necessity
to keep com planters in top work-
nsks.
“Planting 50 to 60 percent of
vour com acreage in the mid
season range helps reduce the risk
from frost and maximizes the total
amount of heat units,” he said.
‘Plant another 20-25 percent in the
full-season range to get total utili
zation of sunlight and heat units.”
Schwartz suggests planting
another 20-25 percent in the short
season range. Growers who sell
grain at harvest may want to plant
more of this maturity because of
moisture discounts.
FINKSBURG, Md. Al
though it was a rainy day, a good
group was in attendance at the
Fairgrounds in Frederick, Md. on
April 20 to see 45 lots of Sim
mental cattle sold for an average
of $1,056.
Seven bulls were sold at an
average of $1,132,11 open heifers
Lancaster Farming Saturday, May 11,1991-07
Md. Simmental
Sale Held
<o<*e on Yoo oovs . /vicve over /
NEED MORE ROOM?
Read The Real Estate Ads
In Lancaster Farming's
Classified Section
MM FARM
MMequipment
100' hay conveyor f/m
bam 10 farrowing crates
Can deliver No Sunday
calls (804)973-2533
1240 4 Row Plateless
Planter, very good condi
tion $5OO Call
301/557-9559
12 foot Dyna-Dnve 3pt,
good condition, $6,000
Union Co. 717-966-2379
13-1/2' Glencoe field culti
vator w/harrow attach
ment, good condition,
$1,600 (215)589-4306
1945 JD B, very good con
dition 717-382-4029
1954 Ford Jubilee, excel
lent condition, $3,300
080 5' Int Rotary Mower,
3 PH, $450 215/942-3011
1966 IH 1800 gram truck, 2
speed axle, 4' sides, 16'
bed with dump, 33,000
GVW. $3900
717-653-4324
1978 230 Timber Jack for
sale, good condition Call
after 7PM 301-482-8095
(1) Gehl 2-Beater Forage
Wagon. $5OO (1) Grove
2-Beater Forage Wagon,
$5OO Call 215/932-8545
ing condition. As long as normal
planter maintenance is conducted
and speed monitored, kernel size
will have little effect on stand den
sity, regardless of the planter used.
Tests have shown seed from any
of Asgrow’s eight kernel size
categories with similar germina
tion levels will produce similar
grain yields when grown under the
same environmental conditions.
Risk
“By planting a mixture of
maturities, you spread and level
out the harvest and grain handling
load, too,” said Schwartz. “You
spread use of harvesting equip
ment over a longer period of time
and over more total acres.”
He said that costly field losses
can be better controlled because
more com can be harvested at its
optimum stage.
“Maturity management plus
early planting will help growers
spread risk and stabilize com pro
fits over the years,” Schwartz said.
averaged $686 and 12 cow/calt
pairs were sold for an average of
$1,238.
The high selling cow was con
signed by G & J Valley Farm,
Spring Grove, and sold for $ 1,750.
The high selling bull was HF
Charlie, consigned by Hargett
Farms, Boyds, Md. and brought
$1,500.
(2)16' Kicker Bale Hay wa
gons, Lely 3 PH Fertilizer
Spreader, 1250 lbs , 671
Detroit Power Unit, very
low hours, diesel
814/847-2759
(2) #5lB Meyers Forage
Wagons on tandem 12 ton
gears, used one season,
excellent condition,
$5,500 /e a c h
814/239-2260
258 NH hayrake, good
condition $l4OO AC WC
tractor, in good shape
$5OO 215-536-9672
275 New Baler, field ready,
$2,250 or best offer Berks
Co 215/944-9161
2R IH 56 corn planter w/
insecticide & herbicide ap
plicators (717)548-2615
300 gallon Century trailer
sprayer 30’ boom
(717)933-4656
3150 MFWDJD tractor, 95
H P , 4 post canopy, w/260
loader and 2 buckets, A-1
condition, low hours Ask
ing $26,000
814-847-2759