Planting Corn Question

[Fire-Man]

Those of you that plant corn-----I would like to know about corn row spacing. My tractor is set-up around 52/53". Alot of farmers grow corn at 36"------I am thinking--well you do get about 3 rows at 36 to two rows at 53---it could save some time----Would it be to my advantage to set my tractor up for 36" rows or being I am only planting a few acre's to leave it at 53? I am thinking there is less weed problem at the closer spacing. I need some input-----------I really think no more than I am planting---Just leave it set-up as is. I am not short on land to plant so why squeeze? Thanks for your input and help with my questions!! Randy

[ONThorsegirl]

The only thing, if you have the seed plant it! You will get more corn off the acres if you plant it at smaller row widths, if it was me and I had the money for more seed, I would plant the smaller rows- less weed problems, and more yield. Just my 2 cents.

Melissa

[floramum]

Dont Know About Tractor Farming, But In The Garden Corn Is Planted Close Together For Better Pollination.

[uncle Will in In.]

When you plant the rows too close together, the corn leaves don't get enough sunlight. This will cause some of the stalks to not set on an ear. 36 inch rows work well, however many farmers have 30 inch rows. The total stalks per acre is one of their main considerations. If your corn is thick enough to keep out weeds, it won't yield well. Do you have a corn planter? If so what are the row spacings on it now? Doing it like the farmers in your area does it will give you the best results. If you have ample ground, I'd go with the 36 inch rows with the stalks spaced about 10 or 12 inches apart in the rows. Corn requires a lot of nitrogen but that's a different question.

[rambler]

Are we talking field corn, or sweet corn?

How do you plan to harvest it?

--->Paul

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by rambler

Are we talking field corn, or sweet corn?

How do you plan to harvest it?

--->Paul

Field Corn-----------Not sure about harvesting yet. I looked at 2 corn pickers yesterday, They want ALOT for them old pickers--LOL. If I decided on a 2 row picker------I am sure the picker would make The Row decision for me, But I am leaning towards a one row or just get a combine to gather it for me. Thanks!! Randy

[palani]

We are still set up for 38" rows but most of the neighbors have gone to 30".

When you go to plant it be aware that you can get more corn in a crooked row than a straight one.

[Sammy]

A one row picker will pick almost any width.
If'in you get a combine that has a four row head, you will need a four row planter.

[rambler]

Originally Posted by Fire-Man

Field Corn-----------Not sure about harvesting yet. I looked at 2 corn pickers yesterday, They want ALOT for them old pickers--LOL. If I decided on a 2 row picker------I am sure the picker would make The Row decision for me, But I am leaning towards a one row or just get a combine to gather it for me. Thanks!! Randy

It would be _really_ good to match whatever is common for the neighbors to have with a combine for row width.

'Round here that would be 30", tho some 38" (like me) is still around.

I would not consider doing something drasticly different like 52 inch or whatever it was. That could be tough to deal with come harvest time.

You get a slightly better yield and quite some better weed control if you go to 30 inch. That is what I would shoot for. Wide row (38") can find cheaper pickers & combines & cultivators if you want to buy all your own equipment, nothing wrong with going that route.

But if you want to hire a combine, you _have_ to match what their corn head is for ro spacing. You do not have to match the exact number of rows tho. If you plant pretty straight, it's not hard to combine the guess-rows. Lots & lots of folks with 4 row head, 6 row planter, or 6 row head, 8 row planter around here.

--->Paul

Re-read your original message. It would very much be to your advantage to go to 36 inch spacing. Higher yield, less weeds, and you won't run into really bad harvest issues. A 2-row 38" corn picker will work well in 36" row spacing.

[lj]

Originally Posted by Fire-Man

Those of you that plant corn-----I would like to know about corn row spacing. My tractor is set-up around 52/53". Alot of farmers grow corn at 36"------I am thinking--well you do get about 3 rows at 36 to two rows at 53---it could save some time----Would it be to my advantage to set my tractor up for 36" rows or being I am only planting a few acre's to leave it at 53? I am thinking there is less weed problem at the closer spacing. I need some input-----------I really think no more than I am planting---Just leave it set-up as is. I am not short on land to plant so why squeeze? Thanks for your input and help with my questions!! Randy

What is the spacing on your corn planter? Is your tractor 53" between the wheels ? How wide are the tires? If you are using a 2 row planter, and you would like to plant rows 30 " apart you will want to know where to place your tires when you plant the second double row. I found that if I set my wheels 42" apart (inside dimension) and my planter 30 " rows and my tires are 18" wide, then at the end of the field when I made my return trip , I could put the right tire down the track it just made and all my rows were 30 inches apart. I planted seeds about 8 inches apart in the row . I had a great crop. It needs rain and some type of weed control. Best of luck.

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by lj

What is the spacing on your corn planter? Is your tractor 53" between the wheels ? How wide are the tires? If you are using a 2 row planter, and you would like to plant rows 30 " apart you will want to know where to place your tires when you plant the second double row. I found that if I set my wheels 42" apart (inside dimension) and my planter 30 " rows and my tires are 18" wide, then at the end of the field when I made my return trip , I could put the right tire down the track it just made and all my rows were 30 inches apart. I planted seeds about 8 inches apart in the row . I had a great crop. It needs rain and some type of weed control. Best of luck.

My Tires are 52/53 center to center---maybe like 40" between the back tires. I don't have a Corn Planter--------I have two Cole planters that my dad had years ago----They attach to the cultivators so I can lay off the rows and plant at the same time. I can set-up the cultivators(with some work) for 30 to 36" rows, but then the tractor will have to be widened. That was another thing--I use my tractor alot in the woods dragging out tree's to saw on the saw-mill and I was thinking if I widen it to 72" its going to be harder to drive between the tree's in the woods----So I guess I got to do some thinking. Maybe 30" corn rows would work out best--then If I buy a picker I will get a one row to pick the deer corn-----and hire a combine to do the rest in shelled corn. I know I have some time before I set-up to plant---That is why I am asking all these questions now--------So I can get/be ready. Thanks Randy

[DaleK]

If you're going to hire someone to combine (IF they'll do just a few acres) get them to plant it too. Following something planted with a different size planter than the head you're using (even if it's supposed to be the same spacing) is just a pain.

[FarmboyBill]

Im using a 1934 CC Casae. The tires are 10in wide in the rear. Its a roe crop with 2 16in tires in front. If anyone wants, Ill go out tomorrow night and measure the inside difference of the rears. My planter is a 1920s/30s 2 row IHC pull type , rope trip planter. i have it set as close as possible, which I think is 28in. I have set up the planter to plant, I think, at 6in in the row But since I set it up again when I saw the crop grow, and cant say for sure what gap there will be. Because, since this is Okla. The soil isnt as good as Iowa. The rains arent as guaranteed, and so, the plant population that actually comes up in Okla isnt as much as in say NE Kansas where I came from. So im upping the plant population to hopefully overcome those deficencies. Also, Im going to plant each row 6in apart. What I mean is one row 6in apart from another, and then a space of around 24in, and then 2 more rows 6in apart, and so on. My dad said they did this in the 30s, so ill see what they found out about it. I like to experiment with different ideas, and have always done so pretty much since I started farming. I have a 50s/70s IHC one row picker, and a old steel wheeled box wagon. I also have a 30ft Kelly Ryan grain elevator, and a sprayer, 2 row mounted cultivator, 4 section rotery hoe. harrow, and so im pretty set up to plant corn

[rambler]

Ah, twin row planting. You will be reducing your plants per row by nearly half, right? Around here in poor ground without much fertilizer you plant 19,000 plants per acre. With great fertility in narrower rows, you might push 35,000 plants per acre. But if you go over 40,000 plants, you might end up with a lawn, no corn. The plants don't get strong enough. and like to fall over if too thickly planted.

--->Paul

[FarmboyBill]

This year, I soaked my corn seed, for several days. I would think you could do it for a week with no problem, just so it always stayed below water. I think that also helped germanation here ithis year and I will continue to do so. Finding a efficent way to do it is still a problem. last year I bought open pollinated corn and it came in cloth sacks and I just dumped the whole sacks in a tank. BUT. This comeing year, I hope to use Roundup Ready corn and use Roundup on it. Ive always harrowed and cultivated and fought weeds for 35 yrs, and ive had enough. You can have a perfect looking field of corn, milo, ect, and it will stay so till you can no longer get into it. The weeds grow and outgtrow the corn. The weeds will be taller than the corn in 80 days on 120 day corn. The weeds got to decrease the crop yield, not to mention being a pain in the neck when picking, and as a sidebar, Pickers are VERY dangerous machines and are peremanently unforgiving of any stupidness. Anybody in the corn belt regon or 100 miles N or S of it over the age of 50 knows a story about sombody who had there hand taken off by one, and lots of weeds causes them to wind up around the rollars and causes the slip clutch to rattle and the rollars to stop rolling, which stops the picker from picking. I know theres people who say I could take a heck of a yield loss for the amount that the seed at $100 per bag and the Roundup would cost, and thats true, But, considering my allergies would be down significantly is a major plus. Bersides, a real farmer likes to see the land producing to the max

[rambler]

I hear you.

--->Paul

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by DaleK

Following something planted with a different size planter than the head you're using (even if it's supposed to be the same spacing) is just a pain.

Yup !