Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota David Clay South Dakota State University, [email protected]
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South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange SDSU Extension Circulars SDSU Extension 5-2009 Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota David Clay South Dakota State University, [email protected] Kurtis D. Reitsma South Dakota State University Sharon Clay South Dakota State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_circ Part of the Agricultural Science Commons, Agriculture Commons, and the Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Clay, David; Reitsma, Kurtis D.; and Clay, Sharon, "Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota" (2009). SDSU Extension Circulars. 490. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_circ/490 This Circular is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Extension at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in SDSU Extension Circulars by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EC929 Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota South Dakota State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and offers all benefits, services, education, and employment without regard for race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or Vietnam Era veteran status. ® –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Support for this document was provided by South Dakota State University, South Dakota Coop- erative Extension Service, South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station; South Dakota Corn Utiliza- tion Council; USDA-CSREES-406; South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources through EPA-319; South Dakota USGS Water Resources Institute; USDA-North Central Region SARE program; Colorado Corn Growers Association; and Colorado State University. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Published by South Dakota State University, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, AgBio Communications Unit, Box 2218A, Brookings, South Dakota 57007 © 2009 by South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any part of this book in any form, except brief quotations, without premission of the publisher. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EC929. 2,000 copies printed and distributed by South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service at a cost of $8.68 each. May 2009. About 5 million acres of South Dakota land—close to 10% of our state’s land resources—are devoted to corn production. This fact alone makes it clear just how important corn production is to the economy of the state of South Dakota. But throw in recent developments in South Dakota’s corn-based ethanol industry, and the result is an even further elevation of corn—an elevation to a most prominent position within the economy of our state. For the last century, the intensity of farming management has continued to escalate. This best management practices manual has brought together some of the best of both old and new technol- ogy. It is my belief that this manual will be a significant reference and resource for every South Dakota corn producer. To all who participated in the development of Best Management Practices for Corn Production in South Dakota, I both extend my appreciation and offer a commendation for a job well done. Latif Lighari, Ph.D. Associate Dean and Director South Dakota State University South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service Professor of Agricultural Education College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences South Dakota corn producers are some of the most productive in the nation. Our state ranked sixth in the nation in production of corn for grain in 2007 and has led the nation in planted acres of genetically engineered corn hybrids since 2000. And yet, our corn producers face many challenges each year. Each producer must make the best decision on which corn hybrid to plant, choose the best fertilizer program, manage high input costs, expect seasonal hazards, deal with weeds and pests, and market the harvest for the greatest profit. This manual presents the best management practices devel- oped for the changing environment of corn production agri- culture in South Dakota. From detailed, basic information on corn growth and development, through each phase of the corn production process, the authors and contributors have provided corn producers with an up-to-date and invaluable reference tool. I extend my congratulations to the editors, reviewers, authors, and contributors for a job well done. Bill Even South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture ii Editors David E. Clay, Kurtis D. Reitsma, and Sharon A. Clay Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota 57007 For information, contact [email protected]. Coordination, Manuscript Editing, and Graphic Design Eric Ollila , Publication Coordinator-Editor Terry Molengraaf, Information Officer AgBio Communications Unit College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota 57007 Reviewers, Authors, and Contributors (alphabetical order) Troy Bauder, Research Scientist Department of Soil & Crop Science, Colorado State University Dwayne L. Beck, Research Manager Dakota Lakes Research Farm, South Dakota State University Sue L. Blodgett, Department Head Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University C. Gregg Carlson, Agronomist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Michael A. Catangui, Entomologist Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University David E. Clay, Soil Scientist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Sharon A. Clay, Weed Scientist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Darrell L. Deneke, IPM Specialist Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University Martin A. Draper, Plant Pathologist Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service B. Wade French, Entomologist Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture Billy W. Fuller, Entomologist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Robert G. Hall, Agronomist Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University Curt A. Hoffbeck, Agronomist Pioneer Hi-Bred International Daniel S. Humburg, Biosystems Engineer Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Dept., South Dakota State University Marie A. Langham, Plant Pathologist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Douglas D. Malo, Soil Scientist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Mike J. Moechnig, Weed Scientist Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University Richard E. Nicolai, Biosystems Engineer Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Dept., South Dakota State University Kurtis D. Reitsma, Agronomist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Bradley E. Ruden, Plant Pathologist Plant Diagnostic Clinic, South Dakota State University Thomas E. Schumacher, Soil Scientist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Dennis P. Todey, Climatologist State Climate Office, South Dakota State University Todd P. Trooien, Biosystems Engineer Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Dept., South Dakota State University Hal D. Werner, Biosystems Engineer Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Dept., South Dakota State University James A. Wilson, Pesticide Specialist Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University Howard J. Woodard, Soil Scientist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Leon J. Wrage, Weed Scientist Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University Recognition and Acknowledgements: South Dakota Corn Utilization Council South Dakota Department of Agriculture South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources Cover photos: USDA-NRCS and Kurtis D. Reitsma. iii Table of Contents Introduction . 1 1. Corn Growth and Development . 3 Kurtis D. Reitsma, Sharon A. Clay, and Robert G. Hall 2. Corn Hybrid Selection . 9 Robert G. Hall and Kurtis D. Reitsma 3. Corn Planting Guide . 13 Robert G. Hall, Kurtis D. Reitsma, and David E. Clay 4. Seasonal Hazards—Frost, Hail, Drought, and Flooding . 17 Robert G. Hall, Todd P. Trooien, Dennis P. Todey, and David E. Clay 5. Tillage, Crop Rotations, and Cover Crops . 21 Dwayne L. Beck, David E. Clay, and Kurtis D. Reitsma 6. Irrigation and Salt Management . 31 Todd P. Trooien, C. Gregg Carlson, and Hal D. Werner 7. Soil Fertility . 39 David E. Clay and Kurtis D. Reitsma 8. Corn Insect Pests . 49 Michael A. Catangui, Billy W. Fuller, and B. Wade French 9. Corn Diseases in South Dakota . 59 Martin A. Draper, Marie A. Langham, Sharon A. Clay, and Bradley E. Ruden 10. Weeds and Herbicide Injury in Corn . 71 Sharon A. Clay and Mike J. Moechnig 11. Corn Grain Harvest . 93 Daniel S. Humburg, Richard E. Nicolai, and Kurtis D. Reitsma 12. Corn Drying and Storage . 99 Richard E. Nicolai 13. Recordkeeping . 107 James A. Wilson, Kurtis D. Reitsma, and David E. Clay 14. Useful Calculations: Corn Yields and Storage Requirements . 111 Kurtis D. Reitsma, David