How Advances in Crop Genetics Influence Nutrient Management

This Week In Ag #136

“How does crop nutrition interact with genetics?” That was a question I received at the recent Phos Forum, where I had the honor of speaking. “Excellent question,” I responded. “But it’s more appropriate to extend this by saying genetic progress drives everything on the farm.”

Back when I farmed, during the 2000s in west central Illinois, I would go to my banker with projected soybean yields of 55 bu/A. While I would often exceed that number, it was a conservative projection of revenue per acre that I used to build my cropping plan. Now those same fields average about 80 bushels per acre.

In 2000, the average US corn yield was 137 bushels per acre. Based on USDA projections, US farmers will reap an average of nearly 187 bushels of corn per acre. In Warren County, Illinois (which neighbors my home county), yields are expected to average 244 bu/A.

Big yields require big machines. The type of harvesting equipment required to efficiently handle 244 bu/A corn varies greatly from those that handle 180 bu/A. When I farmed, a 750-bushel grain cart (a wagon featuring an auger that is pulled by a tractor, filled on-the-go by the combine, then used to fill semi hoppers parked on the road next to the field) was considered big. Now, 1,500-bushel-capacity models are standard, with one manufacturer offering a 3,000-bushel model. Grain systems, especially those in the Midwest where it’s normal to harvest wet corn, must also be updated to handle high volumes of grain.

But yield output is just part of the story. Management practices are strongly impacted by better genetics. They empower farmers to utilize better cultural practices and products.

A recent trend has been to plant soybeans earlier than ever before, in April or even late March, often ahead of corn and other crops. We’re learning that soybean seeds are more resilient than we ever thought. But it’s the genetic progress that’s helping make them more resilient. Thus, enabling farmers to plant early and capture more sunlight.

Same goes for tillage systems. Today’s crops are bred to emerge quickly through heavy layers of mulch, allowing farmers to confidently employ soil- and fuel-saving reduced tillage practices and cover cropping.

Planting rates are also evolving. We used to plant soybeans at 165,000 seeds per acre or greater. Uncle Gary would say, “plant them thick so they can help push each other up through the ground.” And if you were doing no-till, you’d increase seed populations by 10% to compensate. But with today’s genetics, many farmers are finding success with populations around 120,000 seeds per acre; some are going below 100,000. And by using intensive nutritional programs, they are encouraging more branching and more pods. With corn, better genetics encourage higher seed populations that can offset competition between plants and better utilize nutrients and water, leading to increased yields (once again combined with the right nutrition).

So yes, superior genetics are steering crop nutrition strategies. Higher yielding crops can require higher levels of nutritional management, whether that’s timing, rates or products.

But as I also told the group at Phos Forum, it’s important to understand that any change a farmer makes to their operation usually impacts the entire operation. That included accounting for the ever-changing advancements in crop genetics.