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To have any chance at 300-bu. corn, shoot for fields with low stress during the growing season. Low stress means minimal weed and insect populations, zero compaction from an ill-timed field pass, and planting when soil conditions are best.

It's the elusive picket-fence stand you're after.

In my last report I talked with agronomists Mike Musselman and Mike Toohill to learn some of the secrets of high yield corn. Here is the conclusion of that report:

Fertility The ideal fertility level for 300-bu. corn is a soil pH of 6.3, a minimum P1 test of 30, and a minimum K test of 250 lbs per acre. "Ideally we would like to have higher P1 and K test, but with today's fertilizer prices these are minimum levels needed to have a shot at 300,•bCrLf says Toohill, of Midwest Seed Genetics.  Almost all the university data shows no significant yield advantage to deep placing P and K over broadcast.

With $5 corn and $700 per ton Ammonia, most central Illinois soils would need 174 pounds N per acre for corn after beans and corn on corn; Southern Illinois soils would need 173lb. N per acre in corn after beans and 186 lb. N per acre for corn after corn.

What about growth modifiers, foliar applications, micro nutrients or root stimulators? Surprisingly, 99% of high yielding farmers don't use them, says Toohill. "Most of the high yield guys don't play with these but they may bring in 5 to 10 bushels if we can figure out what to use and the optimal timings,•bCrLf he adds. 

Fungicides Better management of fungicide is a more clear pathway to higher yields.  "Every one of my high yielding fields was sprayed with a fungicide,•bCrLf says Toohill.

But fungicide application - especially timing - is often more art than science. Your first goal: do no harm. Spraying fungicides too early - going out two or three days before tasseling - could cause arrested ear development.

"In 2007 arrested ear development was more common that the fungicide manufacturers wanted you to believe, and some ground rigs ran over a lot of corn,•bCrLf he says. "Guys who over-manage and try to grow a disease free plant could get shot in the foot with this strategy.•bCrLf

Timing a fungicide application to control anthracnose or Japanese beetles is difficult. And, it's often difficult to predict how certain genetics will respond to fungicides. But if you can time your application right and get some August rains, even many very healthy hybrids pick up an impressive yield kick from a fungicide application.

High moisture harvest Lastly, you'll get higher yields if you harvest at a higher moisture. "At 24% moisture that field might have yielded 290, but two weeks later at 17% it yielded 267,•bCrLf says Toohill.

In any case don't let moisture drop to 11.7 %. Whenever your corn is mature it's time to go get it, no matter when it was planted.

Got any secrets to higher yielding corn? Share them below. Click on the comment link to share your ideas on this topic. When the comment screen comes up select "other" or "anonymous" to post a comment. The "other" choice will ask for a name and Web site, but that is optional. We look forward to hearing from you.