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2023 a pleasant surprise for many corn farmers

Many corn farmers will remember 2023 for its surprisingly good yields.

CHS agronomy product manager Tim Swanson says member growers reported just-in-time rains during an otherwise abnormally dry growing season.

“A lot of those good stories. Places that seemed really dry just happened to get that timely rain and really had quite an exceptional corn crop in a lot of areas.”

Speaking to Brownfield during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City earlier this month, he said his team is looking back at the growing season to help farmers plan for next year.

“On the fertilizer side we work virtually year-round now, securing things (and) lining up logistics. We have a lot of hub plants that give us a good position to be ready for that grower, which is important because that spring can be fast and furious.”

Swanson says corn rootworm pressure is increasing throughout the CHS territory and farmers need to be planning to manage that pest in 2024.