Greg Roth
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Penn State University
March, 1998

Here are a few ways corn growers lose money.

1. Never check the planting depth. Seeds get planted too shallow or too deep, stands are reduced by 20%, yields by 10%, $30/acre lost.
2. Don't account for manure or crop rotation N credits. Entire crop gets about 50lb/A too much N, $10/acre wasted.
3. Assume the insecticide boxes are calibrated from last year. Inadvertently you apply 25% more product per acre than necessary, $4/acre wasted.
4. Plant all full season hybrids that yield well but don't dry down. Drying a 150 bu/A crop 4 more points at $0.04/point/bu costs an additional $24/acre.
5. Plant hybrids you have no performance data on or experience with on significant acreage, or plant all acreage to a single hybrid. You get a surprise on hybrid performance, yields are reduced by 10 bu/A or $30/acre.
6. Use a high P starter fertilizer on a soil testing excessive for P. No response to fertilizer investment, $10/acre lost.
7. Use a soil insecticide on corn following soybeans. No rootworms to control, cutworms and other pests don't show, $13/acre wasted.
8. Practice recreational tillage by plowing fields that could be easily no-tilled. Labor, equipment, and fuel cost $20/acre.
9. Use 100 units of N where you need 150. Crop runs out of N late in season, yields reduced by 10 bu/acre, $30 acre lost, but you saved $10. Out $20/acre.
10. Have complete faith in your pre-emergent herbicide program and don't check for escapes 2-3 weeks after planting. Weather fails to cooperate and herbicide performance is less than ideal. Weeds reduce yields 10 bu/A before you apply rescue treatment in early June, $30/acre lost.

Unfortunately these scenarios will be repeated again this year on many fields. Try not to make them with your crop.