News

Some Illinois farmers find better results with crop rotation

Farmers in West Central Illinois are surprised by soybean yields and finding better yields and overall crop health in fields with a corn/soybean rotation.

With nearly thirty percent of the crop harvested, farmer and Pioneer Seed Dealer Jeff Cosner tells Brownfield corn after corn yields are coming in 15 to 20 bushels under the 220 – 230 bushel range in other fields.

In this area, corn will not break any yield records.  Cosner said when farmers  corn yields are falling 10 – 15 bushels below the 2014 harvest.  Soybean yields, however, have been the big surprise.

“Guys usually look at 60 to 65 bushel beans,” said Cosner.  “But beans have been upwards of 70.  I’ve had certain guys take beans out as high as 90 bushels.”

Cosner said Diplodia ear mold has shown up in isolated cases in some west central Illinois counties, mainly where corn was planted after corn.

“You get back to a host, an environment and a pathogen.  I’m not pointing a finger at any said company or hybrid, but it comes back down to residue and how things have been done, and under the stress we had in the early June period.”

Cosner’s advice to customers for 2017 is to evaluate which crop to plant. He said this particular area where traditionally 60 – 70% of the corn has been planted in a corn on corn rotation.  He believes a lot of people are going back to a 50-50 corn/soybean rotation.

“It’s all about the basic economics and which crop will make you the most money,” he said.

Some input costs have softened, but commodity prices are still low.  Cosner said it is important for farmers to communicate with their seed dealer and everyone else involved to try to make the best deal possible.  He said this year, it’s all about breaking even.

Audio:  Conversation with Jeff Cosner.