For Sampson County, N.C., farmer Jay Sullivan success depends more on asking why than asking how.

“A long time ago I had somebody tell me that it was important to know why. If a fellow only wanted to know how, he would end up working for the man who knew why. I’m here to tell you that if you can find out why, that’s where profitability lies for the most part,” Sullivan said at the 29th North Carolina Commodities Conference in Durham Jan. 11.

Sullivan was part of a panel discussing grower best practices. Joining him on the panel were Newton, N.C., farmer Lucas Richard and Union County farmer Drew Medlin. The farmers offered tips for improving both corn yields and profits.

Sullivan farms 900 acres with his son Jarman near Faison in Sampson County. He started farming with his father in 1980. Jay and Jarman grow corn, soybeans, wheat and tobacco. They also raise nursey and finish pigs under contract for Prestige Farms.

“We use a systems approach,” Sullivan said. “We farm a variety of land as most of us do in North Carolina. The most important thing we can do is learn and pay attention to our Extension personnel. The best way to develop good farming practices is by learning from my mistakes.”

Sullivan says a systems approach is vital because they farm acreage that includes three or four different soil types that require different plant populations and different fertility systems. “We work real hard to make sure we can be as profitable as we can be on any of those acres. We realize that certain soil types are not going to produce as good as other soil types, but I want to be in a profitable state at the end of the year.”

For Drew Medlin, a good relationship with his seed representative is important because varieties change so rapidly. “It’s critical because you have to make these decisions every year and the varieties change every year,” he said. “I believe it’s important that you buy seed that’s been tested in your area and select seed companies that invest in your community by doing test plots, field trials and field days.”

Medlin farms 3,400 acres in the Southern Piedmont with his dad Everett and brother Brett. He and his father became partners in the operation in 2010 and Brett joined in 2014. Most of their land is red clay and white clay and they grow wheat, corn and soybeans.

The Medlins use chicken litter in their fertility program, but Medlin notes that litter is not going to break down typically for the first crop. “Normally it’s going to hang around for the next crop so you have to keep that in mind,” he said.

The Medlins also make split applications of nitrogen on their corn with the first application at planting and a second side dress at V-6 to V-8. “You need to fertilize for your land. Over doing it is just as bad as underdoing it. Soil testing every one to three years pretty much goes without saying. It’s important to remember too that at V-10 nitrogen uptake increases rapidly so it’s good to have that second shot of nitrogen,” he said.

“As a farmer in 2018, it’s important to understand the big picture but don’t focus on it. Trade deals and the farm bill are important, but don’t focus on it. Focus on how you can be a better farmer every day, every week, every month and every year. Try to use every risk management tool available, crop insurance, forward contracting, puts and calls.”

For Lucas Richard, targeting seeds to each field is important. And the key to growing a crop is a well maintained and calibrated planter to ensure uniform emergence.

“You want every seed planted at the same depth so it will emerge at the right time,” Richard said. “We plant corn on 20-inch rows with a population anywhere from 32,000 to 34,000. A key component of uniform emergence is planter speed and not planting too fast across the field.”

Richard has been farming in the Catawba Valley since 1998. The Newton-based farmer has a greenhouse operation and also grows 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat. In addition to farming, Richard operates a full service grain facility that offers brokering, hedging, storing, drying and transporting.

For his fertility program, Richard uses foliar slow release nitrogen and applies zinc at the V-3 to V-5 stage. “Tissue sampling is important throughout the crop to see what the plant is lacking or if there is something else that it needs because a starving plant will not produce,” he said.

“At post-tassel, a key component of increasing our yields is a fungicide application along with slow-release nitrogen and boron. It has given us a 10 to 20 bushel increase per acre all across our farm so we started doing it on every acre.”