Not all signs point to less corn-on-corn this season

(FarmweekNow) – A common assumption for the upcoming growing season is farmers in Illinois will plant less corn-on-corn.

University of Illinois test trials in stressful conditions last year produced as much as a 90-bushel yield drag in continuous corn compared to corn-after-soybeans at Monmouth.

Farmers typically can expect about a 10 percent yield drag in corn-on-corn, even in a non-drought year, according to Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist.

But that doesn’t mean all farmers should abandon plans to plant as much or more corn this year.

There are agronomic and economic factors that support the planting of corn-on-corn at some locations, according to U of I experts who addressed a large crowd last week at the U of I Corn and Soybean Classic in Springfield.

“Going into 2013, a poorer corn crop (harvested or abandoned last year) actually is easier for corn to follow (this year) than a really good corn crop,” Nafziger said. “There often is less residue, fewer diseases, and probably nitrogen left over.”

Drought-damaged corn that was chopped early or mowed down last summer also reduced the draw on subsoil moisture, compared to a full-season crop, Nafziger noted.

“We’re probably in a little better shape than we might think we are (in terms of subsoil moisture),” he said.

The U.S. Drought Monitor last week showed the majority of the state is normal or abnormally dry, with moderate drought still in Western and Northern Illinois and an area of severe drought along the Illinois/Wisconsin border.

Farmers also may be able to reduce fertilizer rates this year in some cornfields due to residual nitrogen in the soil.

“I think there is a lot of potential to save money (this year) planting corn on a previous cornfield,” said Fabian Fernandez, U of I soil fertility specialist.

“But there are a lot of unknowns,” he continued. “We don’t know how much (nitrogen) will be available until this spring. A lot of that will depend on how much precipitation we get (prior to planting).”

The bottom line is farmers should sample their soils prior to fertilizer applications, Fernandez stressed. In some cases, farmers may be able to reduce the rates.

Meanwhile, crop prices as of last week favored corn over beans, according to Gary Schnitkey, U of I farm management specialist.

“Recently, corn production has been more profitable than soybean production,” he said. “Although, the prices have come together more this month.”

In the past decade, there were just two years (2002 and 2009) in which soy returns outpaced corn returns in Illinois, Schnitkey said.

Overall, Nafziger recommended farmers plan as they always do for this season.

“We have to be careful about overreacting (to the drought),” he added. “We need to manage crops for average to good conditions.”