Why corn populations are going up

Seed companies say high-yielding environments warrant higher populations. 
But you need to factorin the extra seed costs



by PAT LYNCH


The price of corn is not the only thing that has gone up recently. Corn populations have also done so. Corn prices may not stay high, but corn populations probably will.

This trend to higher populations is being led by corn companies. On the one hand, they have the results to show where you should use higher populations. On the other, they are not promoting it as aggressively as they should. They feel that growers will not accept this information. They fear growers will think it is just another way to sell more seed.

Better Farming - January 2011