Farmers in the Missouri River bottoms are seeing corn yields of 230 bushels per acre, while farmers on drought-stricken hill ground are realizing 80-bushel corn. After this year’s drought and wind storm, Gary Marshall, Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO, is surprised by the yields.

After hearing from corn growers across the state, Marshall says corn production is better than expected. "On some of that hill ground, farmers thought they would just get 40 bushels, but they are finding 80 to 90 bushels per acre," he says.

Still, Marshall remains unconvinced by the latest USDA Crop Production Report showing the state harvesting 3.25 million acres, unchanged from 2017. "I think so far, the number does not reflect some of the lost acres we have," he says, noting that drought and wind storms took many acres completely out of production.

Gaining ground
The September USDA report shows a decline in production on those acres by 19%, down to 449 million bushels. Missouri corn yield is forecast at 138 bushels per acre, up 7 bushels from last month but down 32 bushels from 2017.

Marshall says the bounce back in production can be attributed to weather and technology.

Farmers are also reporting higher ear weights. Nationally, USDA reports ear weights are the highest since 2005 at just over .36 pounds per ear. "That means there are more kernels on that ear," Marshall says. He adds that early August rains helped to fill out those ears.

While the weather had a hand in finishing out the corn crop, Marshall finds that technology allows the plant to at times wait out the weather, weeds and insects.

"Seemingly every year we see a 2% increase in yields through technology," he says. "Whether it is drought-resistant corn, corn with better stands, better weed and insect control, these corn hybrids are operating better under stressful conditions."

However, Marshall is quick to add that individual corn growers are at the forefront of making a crop in the most adverse conditions. "Up and down the board our guys are better at raising corn," he says.

Markets needed
Marshall looks for corn farmers to fill all available storage this year as producers wait on markets to open.

The best opportunity is exports. "Unfortunately, the one area being derailed by that is negotiations on NAFTA," he says. Mexico is the top corn market for U.S. corn, with Canada being in the top 10.

"I think we have to make sure something happens with trade to move more corn," Marshall says. "We continue to urge the administration to work fast on trade issues."

Domestically, Marshall points to ethanol and livestock as two key areas where increased use of corn will help farmers.