Missouri river bottom south of Sioux City, IA | I experienced two years of abnormally high ear set. One was in 2012 in the drought year with corn under the center pivot. Planted early April and had excellent planting conditions with dry top soils but enough moisture to get the seed germinated. Pivot suppled water on a weekly bases during May through August and the sun did its part rather well. I had very tall corn and ear set at the 4 to 5 foot area. Had the agronomist say that all the conditions were there to enable the plant to grow tall. Yield was 285 which was 80 bushels above the APH of the field.
So thought tall corn might be a good thing until the 2023 harvest where the ear set was in the 5 to 6 foot range. I had to keep the corn head down to pick up some of the plants that went down which caused ears on the tall plants to bounce out especially over the outside rows end snouts. I had to add about 3 foot to the end snouts ear catchers and slow the head down and drive slower. Yield was about 10 bushels above APH.
This year planting conditions are very similar to 2012 conditions but Mother Nature is doing most of the work after that. Center pivots are taking a much needed rest. Corn is tall and ear set is a little higher than normal. I’m not looking for 80 bushels above APH but I would gladly take half of that.
I’m 6 feet tall and took the pic of the tall corn in 2023. Kinda wonder if there was some silage corn genetics added to this variety.
Tom N.
 (2023 tall corn plants with high ear set (full).jpg)
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 2023 tall corn plants with high ear set (full).jpg (156KB - 15 downloads)
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Iowa yield
