Corn Farmer Cuts Costs, Increases Production

This year, because of other obligations, Ward wasn’t able to plant his until the third week of June. On top of that, he planted in a field that had been used to graze cattle and hadn’t been fertilized in the 47 years he has lived on the farm. To make up lost time, Ward sprayed on a popular herbicide to defoliate the field. Three days later, he “notilled” the soil. Immediately after planting, it began to rain and Ward couldn't spray the AGGRAND 4-3-3/ Liquid Lime mix as he wanted. High temperatures (100 Degrees F) followed the rain in the southern Ohio area. During the hot spell, Ward decided to use a higher concentrate of the AGGRAND 4-3-3 and AGGRAND Natural Liquid Lime because he knew he was only going to be able to fertilize once. Using a 200-gallon spray tank mixed with 4 gallons of 4-3-3 and 4 gallons of liquid lime he fertilized the 5 acres of corn. “I only needed to fertilize once,” Ward said. “It never stopped growing.”

By the Fourth of July the corn was knee high. By the third week of July, it was chest high and by the first week of August it was over his head. By the first and second week in September it was tasselling and was matured by the third to fourth week of September.

“These cobs are as big around as soda pop cans and 12 to 1inches long,” Ward said. “The yield was great because there were so many kernels on each cob.” An added benefit to the exceptional crop was the stimulation of dormant clover that grew between the rows. Although Ward didn’t remember clover having been there, it seemed a combination of the AGGRAND 4-3-3/liquid lime mix, the right amount of rain and the higher than normal temperatures stimulated clover growth. Ward was happy about the clover because he planned to harvest half and leave the remaining standing to feed the deer for hunting season.

Return from corn to organic


Return from corn to Home

New! Comments