CORN IN WESTERN CANADA : MANAGING FOR MAXIMUM RETURNS
While corn has been grown as a field crop in Western Canada for about 40 years , both interest and acres are on the rise . The primary drivers of this change are the recognition of the higher return per acre of corn compared to other cereals for grain , grazing and silage , as well as availability of new , early maturing hybrids .
Best management practices require growers to understand the needs of a corn crop and the demands of growing corn in their region . Hybrid selection , proper soil conditions at planting and timely weed control are the top three areas growers must focus on when first starting out with corn . Plant nutrition , crop rotations and setting accurate yield goals are also key considerations .
Hybrid selection
Selecting the hybrid that is the right maturity for the specific region and recognizing the different maturity requirements when growing corn for grain , grazing or silage are critical first steps . Regional trials provide growers with important local information to aid in this selection . Use multiple data sources , including all resources available and get comfortable with hybrid maturity ratings .
For silage and grazing , the grower should select hybrids that don ’ t quite reach physiological maturity . Maturing basically seals the kernels off and the animal will have difficulty digesting the starch and getting the energy from it . For grazing corn , selecting a hybrid that offers late season standability is important as the crop will remain standing sometimes well into the winter . Strong roots and stalks are crucial in helping the corn stay upright .
Turn up the heat
Heat is a crucial ingredient for corn to thrive so any management practices that help warm the soil will benefit production . Corn kernels require 50 corn heat units ( CHU ) to germinate so warm soils help corn emerge faster and reach target plant populations .
Crop rotation is key . Planting corn after soybeans or other pulses is a good idea as pulses tend to leave a mellow soil that ’ s typically a little blacker than other crops , especially cereals . The mellow , dark soil warms up quicker in the spring , which is beneficial for corn establishment .
Any early season factors that help warm the soil will aid in corn maturity and increase yield potential . Corn development is 100 percent heat driven until the reproductive stage of silking . During the reproductive stages , warm weather is less important and has little influence on crop development . Once the crop has reached maturity , weather again plays an important role as it influences the drydown significantly .
Stay ahead of the weeds
Corn doesn ’ t compete well with early weed pressure so early weed control is essential . Yield drops up to 15 percent by the time grassy weeds reach about four inches . That loss increases dramatically by the time the weeds reach six to eight inches .
As the majority of corn in Western Canada is Roundup Ready , early weed control is quite simple . Multiple applications may be required and glyphosate can be applied until the eight-leaf stage . Growers can also choose a pre-emergent herbicide to allow the crop to get a head start on the weeds .
SUCCESSFUL CORN STAND ESTABLISHMENT
Select appropriate hybrid maturity
Whether growing corn for grain or silage , selecting the right hybrids can help you manage unpredictable environmental conditions . Planting a package of corn hybrids with various maturities helps you be prepared for high returns . A good strategy involves planting the majority of acres ( 60-70 %) to a proven and consistent hybrid ; 20 % of acres to a new , higher yield potential product ; and 10-20 % of acres to an early maturing product . This strategy will help growers hedge against the cool years and benefit during the warmer ones , while also creating an opportunity to get familiar with new , higher yielding hybrid options .
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