Give yourself a leg up in 2006 by visually inspecting your corn fields during harvest and by managing corn crop residue, advise agronomists with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

"From the combine, take notes of what you see as you harvest a field – including stalk strength, standability, crop canopy and height variability, along with signs of insect and disease pressure," says Bill McClure, Pioneer agronomist in Lincoln, Neb. "To better prepare for the next growing season, you also should manage corn residue while harvesting – thus preventing several problems associated with heavy residue."

Watch for growing season issues

McClure recommends having a notepad in the cab of the combine for quick notes. Use a notepad not only during harvest, but throughout the growing season to keep track of observations.

Once in the combine, begin by looking for variability in a field as you harvest, paying close attention to uniformity of crop canopy and plant height. Also, make note of corn stand population.

Watch for stalks with broken or missing tops. This may indicate corn borer damage or stalk rot.

"If corn borer is the culprit, holes in leaves should be evident," says Brian Shrader, Pioneer agronomist in Findlay, Ohio. "In severe infestation situations, corn borers may bore into the ear shanks and cause ear drop."

Shrader adds that when stalk breakage, deterioration or dark lower portions are found, stalk rot is probably the culprit.

"Stalk rot is a consistent problem in corn production, causing yield losses through premature plant death and/or lodging," notes Shrader. "Stalk rot is caused by several different fungi that infect plants through the roots or through wounds in the stalk. Many stalk rot infections can be traced to stalk-boring insect wounds."

Be on the lookout for root lodging, which is normally caused by corn rootworm feeding or compaction. Wet conditions often combine with wind to cause lodging. Areas with compaction often influence poor root development and cause plants to lodge late in the season as ear weight increases.

Keep an eye out for unfilled ears as you make your way through a field. Ears with pronounced tips can be an indication of fertility issues such as nitrogen deficiency. If tips tend to crook or bend, it may be an indication of phosphorus deficiency. Ear tips also can be the result of poor pollination either from weather or insects.

Manage corn residue

No matter the tillage system, successful management of corn residue should begin at harvest with uniform distribution of chaff and stalks behind the combine.

"Managing corn residue has its advantages including better erosion protection, less plugging of tillage or seeding equipment and improved stand establishment," says Mike Hellmer, Pioneer agronomist in Mahomet, Ill. "Success in uniformly distributing crop residue this fall also can help eliminate tillage passes next spring."

Here are some tips to improve the even spreading of corn residue:

• Refer to the combine operator’s manual or talk to your equipment dealer about getting the most even distribution
• Always check residue distribution patterns of newly purchased combines, new or used, and add residue-spreading attachments if necessary
• After setting residue choppers and spreaders, continue to check distribution as harvest conditions change
• Overcorrecting for windrowing problems and spreading residue too far can result in residue concentration outside the harvest swath
• Changing pulleys to increase the speed of straw spreaders can help achieve wider distribution
• Inspect blades of straw choppers; if edges are rounded or dull, consider sharpening or replacing according to manufacturer recommendations
• More aggressive treatment of corn stalks at the combine may be helpful in aiding stalk degradation; this may be useful if intact stalks are presenting problems at planting

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world’s leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.