News

Missouri test plots’ mega corn crop

Missouri farmers are bringing in a record corn crop. Extension specialist Bill Wiebold runs the University of Missouri Variety Testing Program that tests more than 300 corn hybrids in 20 locations across the state.

He tells Brownfield Ag News they’ve seen an average yield of more than 200 bushels an acre, “I haven’t seen numbers like this in the 14 or so years I’ve been doing that. It’s just pretty amazing. Our non-irrigated trials did as well as our irrigated trials which is not uncommon when we have good weather. So, it’s just absolutely amazing.” The average corn yield last year was 150 bushels an acre.

Wiebold says Missouri had almost ideal weather for growing corn this year. More than 90-percent of Missouri corn is harvested.

This year’s high corn yields, he says, may help offset lower the prices, “I’m not saying they wouldn’t rather have high prices, that’s surely true. But, good farmers – we’ve got a lot of good farmers here in the state and they’ve gone through hard times, they’ve got their costs of production down and these high yields make up at least for some of that.”

Wiebold also credits improved hybrids for increased corn yields. He says Missouri is also on pace for a record soybean crop.

AUDIO:  Interview with Bill Wiebold (7:00 mp3):

MU Variety Testing Program – Corn

MU Variety Testing Program – Soybeans