Become Narrow-Minded Donald Specker Pioneer Hi-Bred DES MOINES, lowa Are you becoming narrow-minded about com production? If you are, you’re not alone. There’s a new wave of interest in growing com in rows narrower than the current 30-inch standard, thanks largely to the pioneering work of a few individuals. The real impetus has come from those that grow more inherently narrow-row crops, such as soy beans and sugarbeets, in rotation with com. Farmers in the Red Riv er Valley of North and South Da kota and Minnesota are adopting the practice of growing com, sugarbeets, and soybeans on the same 22-inch row spacing. The forces of simplicity and eco nomics have moved these growers into producing all three crops with the same narrow-row planting, harvesting, and related equipment. Another force moving growers toward narrower rows has been the performance of modem com hybrids at higher and higher plant populations. At a given popula tion, wider rows pack the plants within the row tighter than at a narrower row width; for example, at 30,000 plants/acre, the distance between plants within the row on 36-inch spacing is a tight 5.8 inches, while on 20-inch rows the distance increases to a comfort able 10.4 inches. The trend for higher populations goes hand-in hand with the trend toward narrow ATTENTION CORN FARMERS: * The easy weigh J-STAR 7’xlo’ Platform Scale Systems: accurate axle weights...at surprisingly-low cost Now, when you need precise weight information, load after load for efficient, cost-effective management of your farm, over the-road or custom hauling operation J-STAR makes it easy With accurate, reliable scale systems at a fracton of the cost of scales you may have considered in the past This "easy weigh” lets you ■ Accurately check axle and vehicle weights • Assure maximum weights, every load, without risking fines for running over legal limits Corn Growers rows, It wasn’t that long ago that com was grown in 36-inch rows (more commonly 38 inches in the Mid west), in large part to help accom modate horse-drawn equipment. The initial decrease in row width down to the current 30-inch stan dard was not to accommodate pro duction of two different crops with the same equipment, but be cause there was a noticeable yield advantage. The increase in yield with nar row rows has been attributed to an increase in leaf area index result ing from more equidistant plant spacing. Higher leaf area index means more solar radiation is in tercepted by the canopy, resulting in increased photosynthetic pro duction and higher yields. Com in narrow rows also shades the ground quicker, an added bonus for weed control and moisture re tention in drought situations. In fact, the most consistent increases in yield for narrow rows occurs for irrigated com, where conservation of moisture is critical. Converting to narrow rows for com is an economic decision. In creased costs include modifying the combine head, equipping a tractor with narrow tires, retooling cultivators, and possible modifica tions to the planter and sprayer. On the plus side, the wide-row com planter could be sold, and higher yields may be expected. Higher yields could eventually offset initial fixed costs, but the payback is long term. A clear indi- J-STAR Scale Systems combine reliability, versatility, durability and accuracy with a low cost you’ll have to see to believe. • Make more efficient use of your trucks by consistently hauling at or near capacity, without underhauling • Monitor load placements and weights at the time of shipment • Verify the weight of bulk commodity purchases • Monitor crop yields • Handle up to 40,000 or 50,000 pound loads per tandem or single axle • Assemble and install the J-STAR scale system where needed quickly and easily APP’S BARN E 5935 OLD PHILADELPHIA PIKE, GAP, PA 17527 PHONE: 717-442-8134 we service what we sell cation of the yield increment ex pected with narrow rows is needed to make an accurate economic de cision. Pioneer Row Width Experiments 1991-92 In 1991, Pioneer agronomists began conducting row width expe riments to measure the response of com in 20-inch vs. 30-inch rows. Three populations were used in 1991 18,000, 26,000, and 32.000 plants per acre. To help distinguish the highest optimum population, the rates were raised in 1992 to 24,000, 30,000, and 36.000 plants per acre. At Johns State Location SD FLANDREAU 91 MN MN OVERALL AVERAGE 91-92 Another surprise: ell this performance capability For a scale system this economi cal, you might expect J-STAR to scrimp on features Not so Take a look at all you get' • Standard 7 ft x 10 ft platform, sized to easily accommodate tandem axles. • Two models to choose from, with 40,000 pound or 50,000 pound capacities per tandem or single axle • Rugged J-STAR weigh beams with V> of 1% accuracy (99 5% accurate) ■ Choice of accurate, reliable scale indicators to match your weigh ing needs and preferences • Shock resistant strain gauge load cells for long-lasting, depend able performance • Engineered and constructed of heavy structural steel for years of dependable service and demanding use Portable operation, if desired, because of the system's 12-volt DC electronics, 3 point tractor hitch lift attachment and de- tachable ramps (40,000 pound model only); and low-profile, easy-on-and-off platform design ■ gtMmm Rugged J-STAR Scale Systems are constructed of heavy gauge structural steel tor years ol Corn Talk, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 17,1993-Page into the pipeline rather quickly. “Be careful in watching this com market,” Bower said. “It may be an opportunity for the end user to contract some of your needs. You need to pay ton in 1992, only two rates were used 26,000 and 34,000 plants per acre. Four hybrids were grown at Corn Response To Row Width And Population 1991, 1992 Row Width 20 inch 30 inch 142 Bu/A 128 Bu/A 156 147 165 155 154 143 Year OLIVIA 91 1991 JOHNSTON 92 CANTON 92 KIMBALL 92 le weigl s' UIPMENT _ m Dispatched MljS Trucks €®in miLi mw§ PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC., INC. Growers Should Sell (Continued from Page 24) Pop 18,000 26,000 32,000 Average 18,000 26,000 30.000 Average 26.000 34,000 Average 143 166 167 158 Bu/A 213 Bu/A 221 217 167 181 182 177 24.000 30.000 36.000 Average 108 115 115 112 164 Bu/A 24.000 30.000 36.000 Average (Turn to Page 26) All this plus J-STAR's years of A choice that gives you a proven expertise in building hard- management tool that can provide working, long-lasting equipment vital information to help you con makes a J-STAR Scale System the sistenlly make better business logical choice (or your operation. decisions The “easy weigh " Option* and weighing varaatlllty • Detachable ramps • 3 point tractor hitch lift attachment (40,000 pound model only) • AC/DC power converter for stationary operation • Indicator stand 7 ft. by 10 ft. weighing platform easily handles tandem axles > s SBBS il' Scale indicator can be mounted in an outside environment on a nearby building or on the optional indicator stand attention to the things going on in the news. I try not to hype things up too much, but as a pro ducer and an end user, you need to pay close attention to the markets.” each location, replicated four times. The results are listed in the tables below: Diff 14 Bu/A 140 163 165 156 Bu/A 204 Bu/A 220 212 2 Bu/A 9 Bu/A 154 167 171 164 105 111 109 108 157 Bu/A 7 Bu/A • Radio-controlled remote opera tion (Model 15 only) • Printer (or batch or other weighing applications (Model 15 only) • Computer interface capabilities (Model 15 only) 221 < w s*
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