Optimal Corn seeding rates in NE KS

             
            Grimm  
             
Project Title              
  Optimum Corn Seeding Rates in NorthEast Kansas
 
             
Investigator 1       Investigator 2      
  Darin Grimm
540 240th Street
Fairview KS  66425		    
   
   
   
Phone       Phone      
  785-467-3051            
Email       Email      
  dgrimm@mewlan.com          
             
Statement of Problem            
               
What are optimum seeding rates for corn, and does that very based on things such as hybrids/hybrid maturity, soil type, ect. 
             
Project Objectives            
               
To provide data and analysis results that will help producers determine the best possible seeding rates to use.
             
Methodology              
               
In 2003 we equipped a 16 row Kinze planter with a Rawson variable rate drive.  Numerous equipment setup problems were experienced prior to and at the end of the planting season.  However, when the unit was working it worked well and we were able to VRT as we felt appropriate.In 2004 we intend to be far more aggressive in the number of comparisions we do of different seeding rates.  We want to investigate both “strip” checks and the concept of varing rates at points across the field, making for a good dataset to process with the point-based multi-variant method that the KSU Precision Ag team has developed.  We have quit a bit of seeding rate data from NE Kansas starting in the late 1990’s with the variable weather we experience, we feel all of that data should be combined with the data and results we get from 04 in order to best understand seeding rate issues and allow an individual producer to determine the seeding rate/rates that are best for his situation and operation.
             
Expected outcome / Benefit to KARA          
Provide a very nice overview of yields vs. seeding rates.  Provide helpful data that can be used to determine if varying seeding rates will be beneficial on a parcitular operation.  Provide a methodology that can be used to evaluate seeding rates in other locations.