New corn manual is farmers’ guide to increased yields and profits

Want to increase your corn yields?

Looking for ways to improve your fertilizer program?

Is your precision agricultural equipment giving you fits?

A new publication produced by South Dakota State University (SDSU) specialists can help.

The manual, “Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota,” is your unbiased, research-based guide to corn production. Partially funded by the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, the manual is filled with recommendations to help increase yields, reduce input costs and protect investments.

The publication includes 54 chapters of information. That may sound overwhelming but each chapter is devoted to one topic and it’s simple to access any chapter of your choosing. What you’re looking for is easy to find. Take a look at http://igrow.org/agronomy/corn/igrow-corn-best-management-practices/.

The guide includes an eight-step plan to optimize corn yields and profits. There are chapters on such topics as troubleshooting ag equipment, integrated pest management, and management of crop residues.

There are tips for selecting corn yields, determining optimum seeding rates, managing high water tables in corn production and reducing nitrate losses from drained lands. Researchers also share their findings and advice on growing cover crops, reducing corn harvest losses, and controlling herbicide-resistant weeds.

SDSU and the Corn Council have partnered on a corn manual before and we’ve received positive feedback and requests for updates. This new version includes more topics, up-to-date information, and results of leading-edge research and technology. We think it’s going to be a valuable resource. Please check it out.