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Minnesota farmer seeing success with conventional corn

A central Minnesota farmer growing conventional corn for the first time says the decision came down to more than potential price premiums.

 

Dana Hedberg of Atwater tells Brownfield it was a message about yield impact this past winter that ultimately led him to try conventional on some of his acres.

“We were at a Stine grower meeting and Myron Stine was telling us about how when you’re stacking traits on top of traits, you will actually see a yield drag.  So we went into it looking at it as a yield-positive, not even if there is a benefit on premiums.”

Midway through the growing season, Hedberg says his conventional corn is holding up quite well.

“So far, we’re really impressed with the conventional corn we planted.  It looks just as good as everything else.”

He says they’ve been busy scouting all of their crops, trying to determine if fungicide or pesticide applications will be necessary.

Brownfield interviewed Hedberg during the Balance GTLL Experience tour near Olivia in west-central Minnesota.