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McLeod County, MN | Here 28-30k will run right along with 35-37k. That is planting non-existent "determinate" ears. I have two hybrids in a population test again this year. One of them cost $316/bag. The other cost $325/bag. Both companies recommend planting very high rates as they are "determinate" ears. 30,000 v 35,600. They are side by side so I view all data as completely relevant, even though this year sucks again.
For the $316/ bag hybrid the 35,600 population needs to be 7.4 bu/a better at $3.00 corn than the 30,000 to break even.
For the $325/ bag hybrid the 35,600 population needs to be 7.6 bu/a better at $3.00 corn than the 30,000 to break even.
At $4.00 corn its about 5.5 more bushels required just to break even. That doesnt include how much weaker the stalks get, how much poorer the plant health gets, and how much hotter it can get in a high population field.
You give me a stand of 24k evenly spaced and emerged plants over a stand of 35k poorly spaced and variable emergence field any day of the week. | |
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Do we really need higher pops?
