What Corn Maturity is Most Profitable? 

        Joe Lauer, UW-Extension Corn Agronomist, recently completed an analysis to answer the age old question centering on optimum corn hybrid relative maturity (RM).  It’s long been known that full (longer) season RM hybrids planted early have the greatest yield potential because they generally build the largest plant “factory.”  Conversely, longer season corn hybrids often can be higher in moisture and incur a higher drying cost. In the analysis for the Fond du Lac location, the optimum RM based solely on yield was 103 days.  However, when a commercial drying cost of $0.04 per bushel was considered, the optimum RM dropped to 99 days.  A bit longer RM (100-101 days) was optimum when on-farm drying was done for $0.02 per bushel.  For high moisture corn (no drying and fed to livestock), a 103 RM was again most profitable. 

Corn Hybrids Not Yet Approved for Export to Europe as Food or Feed 

        The following corn hybrid traits are not approved for export to Europe for food and/or feed as of this writing: 

·         Agrisure GT

·         Herculex I Insect Protection

·         Hercules I + Roundup Ready Corn 2

·         Roundup Ready (GA21)

·         YieldGard Plus

·         YieldGard Plus + Roundup Ready Corn 2

·         YieldGard Corn Borer + Roundup Ready Corn 2

·         YieldGard Rootworm

·         YieldGard Rootworm + Roundup Ready Corn 2 

Fuel Saving Tips for Tractors and Self Propelled Implements 

        Fuel prices will have a big impact on profit lines in 2005. In addition to direct input costs for diesel fuel and propane, indirect costs such as increased fertilizer prices will combine to send input costs well above historical levels.  Ron Schuler, UW Extension Ag Engineer, offers the following advice for getting more from less when it comes to running diesel fuel in tractors and combines this fall.  Fuel-saving maintenance steps include the engine air cleaner and fuel system service and tires. Changes in field operation can lead to less fuel consumption without sacrificing crop yield. 

        Servicing the engine air cleaner is important because a dirty air cleaner increases the restriction of incoming air, causing a richer air-fuel mixture. Restriction can be sufficient to cause black smoke in the exhaust gases.  Also less power is available from the engine. The air cleaner should be serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.  When conditions are dusty, which will occur more frequently with this year’s low rainfall, the air cleaner should be serviced more frequently. 

        Worn or dirty diesel fuel injectors may also cause black exhaust smoke.  Diesel fuel additive may be used to do some minor cleaning but for major problems the injectors may need to be disassembled and serviced. If using an additive, it should be approved by the manufacturer or equipment dealer. 

        Proper ballasting is very important with respect to fuel economy especially when the tractive loads are high such as tillage operations.  Excessive and inadequate tractor weight leads to inefficient operation, which may waste as much as two gallons per acre.  The most efficient ballasted weight occurs when the wheel slip is between eight and fifteen percent. 

        Proper tire pressure will insure long tire life and efficient fuel use.  The recommended tire pressure is based on the tire construction and load.  Radial ply tires frequently have a lower recommended pressure than bias ply tires.  The radial ply tires have less rolling resistance making them more fuel efficient in most soil conditions. 

        Other opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and loss are: 

1.  Use ‘Shift up-throttle back’ when pulling light loads. The operator can shift to a higher gear and reduce the engine speed while maintaining the same travel speed. Avoid lugging down the engine at the higher gear. 

2.  Combine field operations.  If two or more field operations can be completed in one pass, do them in one operation.  

3.  Avoid unnecessary operations.  Each operation should add more value to the crop yield than the operation costs. 

4.  Store fuel properly.  A shaded white fuel tank will lose less fuel due to daily temperature changes than a red fuel tank exposed to the sunlight, as much as two percent of the storage tank capacity. 

5.  Do not till any deeper than necessary, especially when doing tillage to address compaction problem, one or two inches below the compacted zone. 

        These are just a few of the ways to save fuel or reduce fuel consumption.  Check the tractor or self-propelled equipment’s operator’s manual for additional steps.  The impact of the recent fuel price increases can be easily lessened.