Crops Flashcards
How many acres?
658 of tillable acres
Corn - 150 acres
Dry corn - 175
alfalfa - 195
soybean - 128
wheat - 33
grass for dry bales - 22
What family does corn belong to?
Zea mays
what are the 3 forms of corn feed used?
- Corn silage
- Dry corn
- High moisture corn
when is corn planted in rotation?
it is planted after alfalfa in the same field for 3-4 years depending on crop yield & quality.
What nutrients do corn require the most ?
nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium
talk about soil sampling?
the Radue’s get their soils sampled every year in a rotational system meaning each field will be tested once every three years. They select to test for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter & pH levels on their soil to plan for nutrient & fertiliser management.
Cultivation & seedbed prep for Corn?
The land is ploughed using a chisel plough in Autumn to a depth of 6-8 inches after spreading slurry.
It is then left until Spring where we go in with a vertical disk to level out the land, this goes 2 inches deep.
How much corn is sown to the acre?
30,000 seeds of corn per acre
How is Corn sown?
Corn is sown using a corn sower at 30,000 seeds to the acre sown at a depth of 1.5-2 inches. When the weather is ideally 10 degrees Celsius. Once sown start up fertiliser is spread at a rate of 100 pounds per acre.
What is the ideal temperature for sowing corn?
10 degrees Celsius
how far does a vertical disk go into the ground?
2 inches
What rate & depth is Corn sown at and when?
30,000 seeds per acre at a depth of 1.5-2 inches sown in May when it is 10 degrees celsius.
During what growth stage should herbicides be applied to Corn?
Vegetative stage 6 (V6)
It is a good time to spread potential herbicides as there is criticial nutrient uptake at this time.
When should you apply nitrogen to Corn?
Anytime between V5-V12 nitrogen should be applied to corn. Once the corn has grown to be 3ft tall apply another round of nitrogen.
what rates should starter fertiliser be applied to corn at?
starter fert is applied at the rate of 100 pounds per acre
When should you apply the second round of fertiliser to corn?
Once the corn has reached 3 ft in height another round of nitrogen is applied, in a 2x2 spacing next to the seed.
What herbicide is required for Corn and why?
Glyphosate & Dicambia are applied to the corn on the farm and to over half of all the corn planted in the USA for weed control.
Example of an invasive weed with Corn?
The giant ragweed. A mix of glyphospate & Dicambia prevent the giant rag weed.
What pests affect corn?
Cut & root worms. havent had an issue for 3+ years so not spraying against them anymore.
Why/when is fungicide applied to corn?
Fungicide is applied in early August if there is signs of Northern Corn Leaf blight. They havent had issues for 3+ years so they dont apply unless required.
When is corn silage harvested & how is it stored?
corn silage is harvested in Autumn. The entire plant minus the end 8 inches goes into the chopper & is chopped to about 3/4inches in length. A roller then compresses the corn kernels so it is available to the papillae in the stomach.
Stored in a pile at 62-70% moisture/
What is the ideal moisture for storage of corn silage?
62-70%
What moisture % is high moisture corn harvested at?
30% moisture
How is high moisture corn harvested & stored?
harvested at 30& moisture. ground up very fine in a grinder before being stored in an ag bag.
