Powerful new stacked seed traits are coming on line just in time for farmers who expect to plant more corn after corn next spring.

"Based on this year, the yield drag we usually experience in corn-on-corn has been eliminated by using stacked trait genetics,•bCrLf says Dan McMillan, who farms around 2,000 acres near Sciota, Ill. "I have some triple stacked corn on a continuous corn field and non-GMO corn on a bean field side by side, and we are basically getting the same yields out of both.•bCrLf

It's no wonder then why farmers say they plan to load up on stacked trait seed, including glyphosate-resistant, rootworm and Bt hybrids, for those additional corn-after-corn acres. Many say they think rootworms have been a problem in corn-after-corn, but were often not sure. Corn borer can also be a mystery yield robber.

"This year we saw more yield drag from not having corn borer protection than in many years,•bCrLf says McMillan. "Normally it's an eight bushel difference, but this year we are seeing a 15-40 bushel difference with GM corn borer protection.

"Usually that trait shows up protecting the integrity of the plant, but this year it's both plant integrity and bushels.•bCrLf

PLANT PROTECTION

Galen Hanson, a district sales manager for Wyffels Hybrids, agrees. "If you are planting more corn on corn next year, the best advice is to plant more technology to protect the plant from more stress in that corn on corn environment,•bCrLf he says. "Protection against pests — rootworm, cornborer, and possibly spraying with fungicides — all those things will increase yield in corn on corn. As I look at guys who are planting more corn based on ethanol demand, those things will get them more bushels to sell.•bCrLf

Those who may be new to the game should keep a closer eye on continuous corn acres. Small problems that lead to stress usually show up first in continuous corn. Watch for leaf diseases as well as insects, and manage crop residue better. Some continuous corn veterans say they strive to make second or third year corn residue look as much like soybean stubble as possible.

In long-term continuous corn, yields can drop precipitously without good management or conditions.

"These are extremes, but one farmer here last year had 60 bushel corn on 10-year continous corn ground,•bCrLf says McMilan. "This year he had a Herculex number and it jumped to 200 bushel. When you get into multi-year corn - 7 to 10 years —that's when those traits become really, really important.•bCrLf

BUY EARLY

Could continuous corn net more per acre next year on some of your farm? Yes, but start planning now if you expect to increase those acres. Since there are going to be more corn acres and more seed planted to corn next year, a lot of these traited hybrids will be in big demand.

The demand is going to be high for newer traits. Don't wait until mid-December to get an order in.