Corn Production In Montana

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2 INTRODUCTION The production of corn in Montana is becoming stabilized. In 1938 there were 174,000 acres of corn planted of which 156,000 acres were harvested with an average yi~ld of 15 bushels per acre. Since Montana is a livestock state there is a demand for annual feed crops such as corn. Because corn usually will produce more feed per acre than most crops, it: is suggested that its acreage be substantially increased. While corn is a satisfactory feed crop in many areas in Montana, its production is often accompanied by such hazards as late spring and early fall frosts. However, corn can be produced with less equipment and its labor requirements come at a convenient time, after the harvesting of other crops. Corn is one of the few cultivated crops that fits well into a rotation on both irrigated and non-irrigated land. In many sections of the state it is used as a substitute for summer fallow in the alternate grain and fallow system of cropping. 'l'he yields of wheat following corn are usually lower than when grown after fallow. However, if corn is used as a substitute for fallow, a crop is produced every year and the land is always protected from wind erosion. With an increase in winter feeding of livestock in Montana there has been a very rapid increase in the acreage of corn on irrigated land. Here again corn fits into the irrigation rotation as a cultivated crop ill a very definite and acceptable manner.... Montana Exten.ion Scrvice in AA"riculture and Home Economic.. J. C. Taylor director. Montana State College llnd United States Department of Agriculture coc>pcratlng. Distributed in furtherance of the Acta of Congress, May 8 and June

3 Corn Production In Montana By RALPH D. MERCER Extension Agronomist Adaptability Small acreages of corn are found in nearly every section of the state. Most of the acreage is grown in the eastern part -from Havre east on the high line and from Big Timber east along the Yellow:stone River. The area along the Yellowstone River from Hysham to Miles City will grow later maturing varieties of corn than any other section of the state. The varieties grown in this area require 110 to 130 days to mature. These varieties would be considered medium to late, in respect to maturity. Because of a shorter frost-free period in other parts of the state, varieties should be selected that will mature in 80 to 90 days. Since the nights are rather cool in most parts of Montana, corn varieties require about 10 days longer to mature than is required by the same varieties grown in the corn belt of the United States. The frost-free period, or the number of days between -the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall, determines the variety of corn that is adapted to a given area. The dates of the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall together with the average frostfree period for the Montana Agricultural Experiment station and its branches are given in Table 1. The data presented in Table 1 shows that the frost free periods at Bozeman, Moccasin, and Havre are long enough to mature medium to late varieties of corn. However, at these three locations the night and day temperatures are too cool for ideal corn growing weather and only the early maturing varieties of corn will mature satisfactorily.

4 4 MONTANA EXTENSION SERVICE Table 1. Average dates of killing frosts and the frost-free periods for the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and its Branches. Number of Dates Average Days Years Last Killing First Killing Frost Free Name of Station Averaged Frost Frost Period Agr. Exp. Station Bozeman, Mont. 1' May 20 Sept Northern!Branch Havre, Mont May 16 Sept Judith Basin Moccasin, Mont May 27 Sept Huntley Branch Huntley Mont May 17 Sept Open pollinated varieties have a wide range of adaptation. Late varieties, through selection, may become acclimated to areas with a shorter growing season, but often this is done at a sacrifice of quality. Generally speaking, it is well to select a Fig. I-A field planted with an adapted variety of corn and kept clean will produce an abundance of good feed.

5 CORN PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 5 variety that will mature 7 to 10 days ahead of the average date of the first killing frost in the fall. If later varieties are gro.wn, then the::e should also be an earlier dent or flint planted to lllsure a partial crop of mature corn each year. Varieties Late maturing-minnesota 13 and Silver King are the two lute maturing varieties of dent corn which have the best opportunity of producing a mature crop along the Yellowstone River east of Hysham. Where fodder for silage is desired, they make excellent varieties to grow. Minnesota 13 (Owens Strain) is a yellow dent yielding a good sized ear. It has been grown in the above area for the last 25 years. This selection has a smooth kernel of good depth and yields well. Silver King (Pemberton Strain) is a white dent corn with large ears that are inclined to be rough. It produces a large yield of forage and a good yield of mature corn. Both of these open pollinated varieties are good for production under irrigation. Medium-maturing varieties-the four dent corn varieties: Pioneer, Brown County, Payne's White and Wisconsin 25 and the 2 semidents, Falconer and Northwestern dent have a wider adaptation than other corn varieties, except the flints. Pioneer is a medium sized white dent with a large smooth kernel. Brown County is a yellow dent with a good deep kernel. The kernels slope off at the top to make a characteristic opening between the rows. Wisconsin 25 is a yellow dent grown primarily in the southern tier of counties. It is very similar to an early strain of Minnesota 13. Payne's White dent is a variety which has done very well under irrigation on the Huntley project. Falconer is a yellow semident corn. It has large kernels which are fairly deep. It produces a lot of corn and stover. It is the most popular variety in the state at the preesnt time. It reverts quickly to a flinty type unless care is taken in selecting seed. The seed of falconer should be selected on the dent side to prevent reversion to a straight flint type. Northwestern dent is a semident with medium depth kernels. The kernels are red with white or yellow indentations. The cob of Northwestern dent il'i inclined to be too large. It produces a large amount of stover.

6 G MONTANA EXTENSIONSiERVICE Early maturing varieties-flint varieties of corn produce good yields of corn and stover and are most likely to mature every year. Gehu, a yellow flint, is the most popular variety grown in Montana. It is low growing. Dakota White flint produces good yields of both corn and stover. It has rapidly decreased in popularity in the last 10 years. There are several strains of mixed flint that yielfi as well as the yellow and white flints. Most of the mixed flint grown at the present time are mixtures of yellow and white flint. Mercer flint and Rainbow flint are recommended for irrigated land. Many other varieties have been tested in corn variety tests but those listed above have produced the best results. Avoid h'ying something new. Select instead, adapted. varieties that are being produced in the area. Fig 2-Prize winning samples of corn at the Montana State Corn show. These samples show the result of careful selection over a period of years.

7 CORN PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 7 Hybrids The production of hybrid corn has made rapid progress in the past few years. Its production is exacting and the adaptabhity of any particular hybrid is limited. to small areas. Its yielding capacity is greater than most open pollinated varieties, provided adapted hybrids are used. Corn variety tests have been conducted during the past 3 y{~ars in which open pollinated varieties have been compared with commercial hybrids. These hybrids have given varying results. In 1938, six tests were conducted in four counties on irrigated land. With a 30-da.y longer growing season in 1938 than the average frost-free period for these areas, the average yield of hybrid corn for each of the tests was from 3 to 5 bushels more air dried corn per acre than was obtained with open pollinated varieties. However, in each test there was an open pollinated variety which equalled or excelled the hybrid in yield of air dried corn. In several states the requirement for the registration of inbred lines is only 10 per cent increase in yield over the parent selection. This is a small increase compared to yields claimed for most hybrids. There is a question as to whether or not hybrids should be developed for this state. It is also questionable whether hybrids ~hould replace the open pollinated varieties which have been grown in Montana for the past twenty years. The Montana Agricultural Experiment station is conducting a corn breeding program which includes the development of adapted inbred lines for hybrid studies. Desirable early maturing inbred lines may be produ<led that will furnish hybrid foundation seed for Montana. Recommended open pollinated varieties are producing good yields of mature corn on both non-irrigated and irrigated land in Montana and it would seem advisable to go slow in changing over to hybrid corn. The small acreage of corn in the state nlakes the educational features of hybrid corn difficult.

8 8 MONTANA EXTENSION SERVICE Hybrid seed corn must be purchased every year. Unless seed corn is purchased each year, the advantage in yield is lost. At present it will be necessary to depend on hybrids developed in other areas for planting in Montana. If producers in the state wish to grow hybrid com, sufficient variety tests should be conducted to make sure an adapted hybrid is being planted. If mature corn is desired, then the hybrid should mature within the average frost-free period for the area. If corn is being planted for silage, then the use of hybrids is justified. If a hybrid is found which answers the purpose, stick With it. Producers should realize that an adapted hybrid corn, which will mature within the average frost-free period for the area, has a place in Montana. However, until a hybrid has been thoroughly tested and found to be adapted, the producer should hesitate to plant it on too large a part of his total acreage. Fig. 3-The production of stover and corn from 4 open pollinated varieties and 2 hybrids on 1/50 acre. This test-was conducted on irrigated land in Yellowstone county.

9 CORN PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 9 Know What You Sow Seed corn from open pollinated varieties should be selected in the field from the standing stalk. It should be selected early before the first killing frost. By selecting in the field the prol ducer has an opportunity to observe the height of stalk and ear, and the forage character of the plant as well as the type of ear. The ears should be placed in a well ventilated place so the moisture content can be reduced as quickly as possible. Do not pile or bin until the ears are thoroughly dried out. Early picking often results in shriveled kernels, but the germination. will usually be high. Before seed corn is shelled, make a bulk test of the entirelot. Select 100 ears at random and take 2 kernels from th~ butt, center and top. Send the 600 kernels to.the Montana. Grain Inspection Laboratory, Bozeman, for a germination test. If this bulk test shows 95 per cent germination or Qver, the entire lot can be safely shelled and graded. If the bulk test shows lower than 95 per cent, the entire lot should be carefully culled. If a bulk test after culling still gives an unsatisfactory germination test, an individual 'ear test should be made using a sand box or rag doll tester. When culling any lot of seed corn be certain to discard any ears that show varietal mixtures or have off colored cobs~ such as a white cob in yellow dent corn. In yellow corn, mixturet of white, usually will be evident on the top of the kernel. In white corn, mixtures of yellow usually will be seen along the side of the kernel. Pink blotches on white corn are usually caused from weather conditions, while distinct. flicks, or marks of another color, usually indicate mixtures. To.avoid mixtures: different varieties should not be planted closer than 80 rods~ under favorable pollination conditions, even this is too close: Selection work is necessary every.year if ()pen pollinateq varieties are to be improved. In purchasing seed corn it is we~~ to know the field it came from and to know the germinatiori: Even more care should be exercised in the purchase' of hybrid seed corn. The purchaser of hybrid seed corn should'insist on: purchasing only seed that has been inspected and sealed by a

10 10 MONTANA EXTENSION SERVICE corn production association or from a firm that has the parent stock of each hybrid registered with the Commissioner of Agriculture of the.state of Montana. Unless a hybrid has been produced by single or double crossing inbred lines of known performance it will not produce desired results. Know what you sow. Planting' Two methods of planting are practiced in Montana. Surface planting, either by checking or drilling, and by listing. Both methods have their place and both have given very good results. Check row corn can be kept much cleaner by allowing for cultivation both ways. Drilled corn produces well where the stand is not too thick. The listing of corn eliminates plowing the land, although many producers duckfoot the area prior to listing to start weed growth.. To properly handle listed corn, a lister and lister cultivator should be available. With proper equipment the listing of corn is economical, produces a good crop and leaves the land in excellent shape for a grain crop. Ordinarily listed corn gets off to a slower start than surface planted corn, but there is little difference in the maturing date. Spring plowed land is preferable for surface planted corn. :Many producers duckfoot the land prior to plowing, to start the weed growth and: to lessen evaporation. The land should be plowed and planted as soon thereafter as possible. A firm seedbed with a cloddy surface mulch is desirable. Corn should be planted May It is better to encounter frost at the beginning of the season than to have the corn frosted bf\fore it has matured. Corn frosted down in the spring will usually come back and make a good crop. o' '. When corn is planted.under irrigation the planter should be equipped with a ditcher so the corn can be irrigated up if necessary. A bushel of corn should plant 10 to 15 acres on non-irrigated land and 6 to 8 acres on irrigated land.,,

11 CORN PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 11 Cultivation Cultivation on surface planted corn should start as soon as the weeds begin to appear. If protected by small grain in a strip cropping system, the spike tooth harrow is a good implement. Corn can be cultivated in this manner until,it is 8 to 10 inches high. If soil erosion is a factor, the cultivator equipped with blades, sweeps, or knives can be used in blind cultivation. The first cultivation should be deep, but later cultivations should be shallow. Deep cultivation reduces the root system. Cultivate flat-do not ridge the corn. Corn land is being prepared for a grain crop and should be kept clean. Hand hoe drilled corn if necessary. The lister cultivator is a profitable implement to own 'when producing listed corn. On the first cultivation the soil should be thrown away from the plant. On the second and later cultivations the soil should be thrown toward the plant. The corn guard should be used at all times. On the last cultivation the lister furrow should be level. Some listed corn is cultivated by harrowing crosswise of the list and by "busting" the ridge with a cultivator. Both methods result in loss of stand ned indifferent weed control. Irrigatmg In Montana Extension service bulletin No "Irrigating Field Crops in Montana," G. H. Bingham, extension irrigation specialist says: "In general the total seasonal water requirements for corn are only slightly less than those of small grains. The most critical stage of growth, in relation to moisture supply, occurs at tasseling. Adequate moisture at that time is essential for good yields. "Under irrigation, corn is usually planted flat, instead of in lister furrows, as is often done with dry land corn. For irrigation, large furrows about six inches deep are made between the rows with regular irrigation shovels attached to the cultivat~r. Water is applied in these furrows. Surface floodmg should be avoided.

12 12 MONTANA EXTENSION SERVICE "General observations indicate that a single irrigation for corn is most effective when given in July. "In ordinary seasons two irrigations may be all that are required. Three irrigations may be needed during drier years. Regardless of the number of irrigations, the last one should usually be given not later than August 15, since irrigation later than this will delay maturity. "The yield of corn under irrigation increases rapidly with increased amounts of irrigation water up to 20 inches a year. The yield decreases as more than 25 inches of water is applied. Applications from 4 to 6 inches in depth from each irrigation is good practice in corn growing." Fig'. ~Corn, properly irrigated, makes good growth throughout the season and produces a good yield of mature COl n. Corn will respond to good irrigation methods the same as any other crop. Properly cared for it can be made to produce a good return. Irrigate corn-do not drown it out. Harvesting Corn should be harvested when it will produce the highest per cent of feed value. Except under irrigation, the types of machinery used to harvest corn are not generally adapted to the kind of corn produced in Montana. Acreages are in general too small to justify expenditure for much machinery. The ordinary corn binder will handle corn under irrigation and some n011 irrigated varieties. The ordinary grain binder has been used but it is not very satisfactory. Homemade sled cutters have also been used. A large amount of corn harvested in the state is still cut by hand. When complete utilization of the crop is desirable harvesting with livestock is the cheapest and best.

13 CORN PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 13 Fig. ~-The pit silo is inexpensive and allows complete utilization of the entire com plant. The above photo was taken in Richland county where a large number of pit silos are in us'e. The use to be made of the corn crop will determine the time of harvesting. If the corn will be going into the silo, it should be harvested when the corn is nearly all dented. The condition of the corn, the lateness of the season and othf\r factorh, such as labor, will have an effect on the time the corn i~ put into the I:',ilo. However, the corn plant should contain enough moisture to "pickle" itself without adding more water. Corn that is to be shocked should be cut before frost. If an early maturing variety is grown it should be cut while a majority of the leaves are still green. Corn will mature well in medium sized shocks, and most of the leaf surface will be saved. Corn that will be fed in the bundle should be stacked. Corn stacked properly will keep indefinitely. If the corn is to be ail' dried in the shock, it should be stacked in long narrow ricks not over 8 or 10 feet high. If the corn contains excessive moisture at stacking time, a layer of straw, 4 to 8 inches wide, ~hould be put between each layer of corn to absorb exces!'i moisture and improve ventilation. Corn that is to be fed in the ear is usually allowed to mature in the field and is husked from the standing stalk. Corn that

14 14 MONTANA EXTENSION SERVICE is to be tm:eshed should be cut and shocked while the forage is still green. Hogging or pasturing with livestock should begin when the corn is in the late dough stage. Harvesting small sections of the field at a time will insure better utilization. This necessitates ftmcing, but it is worth it. Any method of harvesting employed should consider making complete utilization of the entire corn plant.