Can your CORN handle the pressure?

Pressure and stress….two things we don’t want in our own lives, and certainly don’t want it in our crops’ lives either! Giving your crops a preventative shot of fungicide, helps ensure you are maximizing the yield potential.

I spoke with Mike Hopke, Agronomist here at Landmark, and he explained fungicide and the WHY everyone should be using it!

“Weather conditions this growing season have created the perfect storm for harboring diseases. Wet spring and early summer, high winds and hail damage to plants, is a recipe for stress and fungus.” Fungus and disease attack leaf and stalk tissue, taking away the potential for those affected plants to produce grain. Using an aerial fungicide protects your maximum potential.”

  

Hopke also stated “We are truly set up for an excellent year as far as yield goes.”

The cost is relatively small compared to what you stand to gain. Although applying fungicide won't increase bushels, it will definitely decrease loss.  Stressed corn doesn’t produce grain, healthy plants do. Isn’t the goal more corn?

 

Everybody wants PILES of grain, right?  Smells like profit... 

 

 

This is Mike Hopke-- he specializes in aerial fungicide application and prescriptions to keep you profitable.  Learn more on aerial fungicide application in this week's Landmark Lesson!

 

 

Cassandra Strommen, VP Marketing Development of Landmark is no stranger to agriculture.  Strommen worked in Animal Nutrition for five years prior to her current role with Landmark.  She has a passion for cows and all things agribusiness.  If you'd like to get in touch with her, she can be reached at cassandra.strommen@landmark.coop. 
 

 

Grow 'em up right!

So what do kids and corn have in common? No, it’s not that they have ears but can’t (or don’t) listen. Hey, that is actually funny- I can’t believe I can be that witty. But enough about my wit or humor. This is serious.

I had the opportunity to ride along with an agronomist today. Joe Speich to be exact. He got me thinking about children, and corn, and the commonalities on growing them up right.

Well, first off- we start with great genetics, right? Right! We plant the ummm, seed, and then wait for growth. But we don’t sit idly by passing the time. We fret over the proper nutrients, making sure the ground is, well, FERTILE. Then when that little sprout emerges- the fun is just beginning.

We worry about the weather, bugs, proper nutrition, vitamins and minerals, and a myriad of things in between the beginning of that young sprouts life to the point when they can finally be independent enough to grow up on their own. (is this even a reality???!!!) Well, anyway- the first phase of that little one’s life is where we can make the most impact on their overall health- to hopefully produce a fruitful adult that yields potential. (Can you see where I am going with this? You know, the commonalities…kids, corn…can you see it?)

 

Getting to the point. We feed children nutritious food, take them to the doctor for regular check-ups, vaccinate against disease, and give them vitamins. We protect, nourish and nurture, all in hopes of a well-adjusted grown adult who can one day provide us with a healthy “yield.” ( I know, I am stretching this to get a point across…stay with me.)

Shouldn’t we do the same for our corn? In most cases we do. We understand the benefits of caregiving to the plant, so that it has a high yield, thereby feeding our animals and the worlds growing population.

Well, it’s about time for your corn to get a shot in the arm of much needed nutrition. Tissue Sampling is the quickest, easiest way to see what your plants are deficient in, if anything. Call your agronomist- your “little sprouts” are now emerging- within the next few weeks, you have an opportunity to give them what they need to produce an abundance of corn. From what I gather, and I am just a mom, not an agronomist- you have about the first 45 days of a plants life to make a difference.

 

Get your tissue sampling done- grow a bumper crop and help feed a growing population!

 

Happy Growing!

Hear more from Landmark agronomy expert and YieldEDGE Manager, Kevin McKee, in this week's Landmark Lesson. 

Cassandra Strommen, VP Marketing Development of Landmark is no stranger to agriculture. Strommen worked in Animal Nutrition for five years prior to her current role with Landmark. She has a passion for cows and all things agribusiness. If you'd like to get in touch with her, she can be reached at cassandra.strommen@landmark.coop.