Growing a corn crop can help you generate good profits. According to estimation, corn farmers can make around $738 per acre, which is a good amount indeed.
But remember that you can only make good profits from your corn crop if you find the right information and implement it properly. Keep reading this article to find actionable tips that can help you improve the yield of your corn crop.
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Start with proper planning
Planning is the key to increasing the yield of your corn crop. You can never expect to get a high turnover from your crop if you don’t focus on proper planning. Before you collect money before you plant the seeds, you should start by creating a plan.
Here are some basic planning tips that can improve your crop:
- Prefer non-GMO seeds
- Plant at the right time
- Focus on crop rotation
- Maintain the pH of the soil
- Prepare against pest attacks
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Read valuable resources
You need to gather as much information as possible before planting the corn seeds. Without the right information, you might not be able to get the desired yield from your corn crop, and you might waste your money during the process.
You can read trusted resources to increase corn yield without making any mistakes. Make sure you spend time getting information to use for your corn crop.
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Follow the KPIs
You can never trust your “gut feelings” to make your farming decisions. It’s important to rely on data you gather from fields and use it to make decisions that accelerate the yield of your crops. A simple way you can track the effectiveness of your farming strategies is to follow the KPIs.
Some of the agricultural KPIs are:
- Estimated production potential
- Yield per plant
- Return to shareholders
- Investment evaluation
- Field utilization rate
- Average sales period
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Connect with other farmers
It can get difficult to gather all the information about growing your rice crop properly. To ensure that you find actionable advice and don’t make any mistakes, you need to connect with corn farmers.
Try to ask proper questions from farmers. For example, you can ask them what challenges they faced when growing corn and how they have managed to overcome challenges over the years. Here are some ways you can connect with other corn farmers:
- Participate in webinars
- Enroll in certification programs
- Connect with farmers through workshops
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Plant at the right time
The time when you plant seeds dictates the yield of your corn crop. Remember that corn seeds are affected by the temperature of the soil. The sprouting of corn seeds starts when the soil temperature is around 12°C.
If the soil temperature is less than 12°C, the seeds might not even start sprouting. Therefore, it is important to control the temperature of the soil, so sprouting starts properly.
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Add nutrients to the soil
It’s important to improve soil quality for adequate growth of your corn crop. Over time, the level of nutrients might reduce in your cornfield, which can significantly reduce the growth of your plants.
Make sure you check the levels of nutrients in the soil from time to time. If required, you should add more nutrients to the soil by adding manure and additional plants.
You can also consider adding a cover crop to your cornfield. A cover crop can help you combat issues like:
- Erosion of soil
- Lack of nutrients
- Presence of insects
- Decreased water infiltration
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Think about the climate
The local climate directly influences the growth of your corn crop. If you want to improve the yield of your crop, you have to consider the local conditions before you start the plantation. Try to get help from credible resources to ensure that the local climate is good for the cornfields.
Other than that, you should familiarize yourself with the weather conditions in your area. Make sure you adopt changes in your field so the plants can combat the harsh weather.
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Opt for eco-friendly options
You have to focus on being eco-friendly to ensure that your corn crop thrives and you don’t harm the environment. For example, if you use fossil fuel for energy generation, the smoke emission can harm the ecosystem and crop.
Start looking for eco-friendly alternatives to the machines/procedures you already use. For example, you can install solar panels in your field for electricity. Try to share machines and tools with other farmers instead of buying new tools to save money.
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Get help from good insects
Not all pests can be recognized as “bad” insects. Therefore, it is important to identify the pests that can help your crop and ward off other pests that can destroy your crop. Introducing good insects to your crop will create a balanced ecosystem.
For example, lady beetles can repel aphids from your cornfields. Attracting beneficial insects to your crop requires you to follow some steps, which you can find in this article.
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Scout the fields regularly
Scouting your cornfields is essential to ensure that your crop achieves your goals. Periodic scouting allows you to look for any pests or weeds attacking your cornfields. You can also check if your corn crop lacks any nutrients and how you can replenish your crop.
Scouting requires you to bring specific tools when you head to your corn crop. Here are some of the tools that are used regularly for scouting:
- Pen and report forms
- A pocket knife
- A magnifying glass
- Labeling material
- A hand counter
- A measuring tape
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Focus on certifications
Being certified as an organic farmer can help you grow better crops. With a certification, you will know how to follow the guidelines set by the authorities and accelerate the growth of your crop. Certifications can also help you sell your crop faster.
Becoming a certified corn farmer is a difficult task. Here are some steps you can follow to get certifications easily:
- Check the requirements
- Get help from other farmers
- Look up the website of the local government
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Harvest the right way
Having a greater yield of your corn crop if you can’t handle the harvesting process properly. Adopting proper harvesting strategies will ensure that you get the maximum financial benefit from your corn crop.
Choosing the right strategies and tools for harvesting will ensure that your crop isn’t wasted. The right timing of harvesting is also important so you can get a good return for the value you spend.
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Don’t forget about crop rotation
Proper rotation of crops is also good for the growth of your corn crop. Before you plant the next corn crop, you should wait for the best time.
It will ensure that the soil composition is proper for the crop. Crop rotation is also good for the soil organisms that can improve the balance of nutrients in the soil.
