November 28, 2002

North Dakota Corn Production is on the Increase

The average corn acres planted in North Dakota for the past 18 years ranged from 700,000 to 900,000. The 2002 acreage peaked at 1.03 million acres. According to North Dakota State University corn experts, early maturing hybrids, increased wheat disease, and changes in North Dakota weather patterns have been responsible for the expansion.

Duane Berglund, NDSU extension agronomist, and Marcelo Carena, NDSU corn breeder, both agree increased productivity of early maturing corn is the major factor driving corn’s expanded acreage. "We now realize that early corn has similar genetic potential to late corn. Producers as well as the industry are more committed to early corn and its economic potential," Carena explains.

Disease problems, particularly scab, associated with wheat in the eastern part of the state also are playing a part. Farmers turned to a corn/soybean rotation in hopes of escaping those problems. "Corn works well in rotation with sunflowers, soybeans and canola," Berglund says. If corn is being used in rotation with a small grain such as wheat, durum or barley, the small grain must always be first in the rotation. If corn is used first in the rotation, the risk of scab is very high.

Marcia McMullen, NDSU extension plant pathologist, feels that diseases affecting corn may become more common and severe as production increases in North Dakota. "This will happen primarily because more acreage will mean a shorter time between corn crops on the same ground," McMullen explains. Diseases with potential to increase include stalk rots, root rots, seedling blights and leaf diseases.

McMullen suggests management techniques can minimize disease potential. Select hybrids that are stalk rot resistant and have good standability ratings. Use a two-to-three year rotation away from corn and harvest any fields with severe stalk rot as soon as possible to avoid harvest loss. To prevent root rots and seedling blights use seed treatments and plant when the soil temperatures are appropriate, she recommends. Selecting hybrids with genetic resistance and using a two-year rotation away from corn can help control leaf diseases.

"NDSU has been working on the development of corn inbreds for approximately 80 years," Berglund says. The corn-breeding program at NDSU releases adapted inbreds to the industry. Corn breeding companies use those inbreds to develop hybrids for producers. NDSU also conducts hybrid corn trials that help producers select correct hybrids for their areas. "NDSU’s active corn breeding program is essential to support the growth of corn production in the state," Carena comments.

NDSU’s corn breeding program tests thousands of inbred lines every year. Only one or two lines make it after three to five years of vigorous testing at locations across the state. Inbred testing is conducted with the purpose of obtaining elite inbred lines. Data is collected for thirty-one traits. They include disease resistance, maturity, stalk and root lodging, ear quality, and seed set. Researchers are also testing for herbicide damage, drought and cold tolerance, and salt tolerance. Trials are also conducted in Canada and Europe prior to releasing a line.

The inbred is crossed with commercial and public testers to make hybrids. The hybrids are analyzed at various North Dakota locations for characteristics such as grain yield, moisture, lodging resistance, and test weight.

NDSU Extension Service specialists provide information to those interested in corn production and its economic potential. They work closely with the North Dakota Corn Growers Association and the Corn Utilization Council to keep North Dakotans informed on advancements in the corn industry. That is important so producers in the region can market top quality corn and take advantage of cost-cutting and yield boosting production methods, Berglund says.

The Pro-Gold Ethanol plant in Wahpeton plays a large role in North Dakota’s corn production as it receives around one third of the corn produced in the state. "This type of industry has a large impact on keeping the producer thriving," says Carena. They offer incentives such as premiums for high quality corn. They also affect the type and quality of corn that is grown in North Dakota by informing producers and companies as to what type of corn they are demanding. "Communication among all parties will increase the incentive to produce more corn in North Dakota," says Carena.

Overall corn production is increasing but methods of harvesting are also changing. According to Berglund, the amount of corn harvested for grain versus silage in North Dakota has grown considerably in the past ten years. "This year 80 percent of the corn grown in North Dakota was used for grain compared to around 60 percent ten years ago," Berglund says. The is due to a variety of factors including the advances in early maturing corn, better use of weed control and herbicides, and changes in weather patterns allowing for longer growing seasons.

Phil Glogoza, NDSU extension entomologist, says along with the shift in harvesting methods could come greater problems from European corn borer. Corn borer survive the winter as larvae in corn stalks. Corn harvested for silage results in higher borer mortality since the stalk is harvested. "Corn borer is not new to the state but it does have the most potential of all corn insects to impact yield as corn production increases," Glogoza explains.

Grasshoppers are another pest that Glogoza feels are of concern to corn producers. They are likely to infest corn toward the end of the season when other grains are reaching maturity or have been harvested. "The best form of management is to monitor field by field to determine if the problem warrants action," Glogoza says. That approach also applies to corn borer. If action must be taken insecticides can be used to manage economically damaging populations. The use of genetically modified corn has also been used to manage corn borer in southeastern North Dakota, he says.

North Dakota’s short crop season, below average temperatures, and below average rainfall in relation to other Corn Belt states creates a few challenges for corn growth. According to Carena, NDSU’s corn breeding program will continue to develop corn genetic material that will help producers deal with these challenges so corn production can remain sustainable in North Dakota.

Eastern North Dakota has caught on to the corn production craze but Berglund feels that western North Dakota is also well suited for corn production. "There is more potential in western North Dakota than people think," Berglund says. The use of different tillage techniques, round-up ready corn, earlier maturing hybrids, drought tolerant corn and the amount of livestock in western North Dakota all support an advancement of corn production in that region.

###

Contacts: Duane Berglund (701) 231-8135, dberglun@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Marcelo Carena (701) 231-8138, marcelo.carena@ndsu.nodak.edu
Marcia McMullen (701) 231-7627, mmcmulle@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Phil Glogoza (701) 231-7581, pglogoza@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Deana Oe (701) 231-8371, deana.oe@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu