Skip-Row planting

        Date    
          28-Jan-05    
             
Project Title              
  Skip Row planting of corn
 
             
Investigator 1       Investigator 2      
  Scheufler Farms, Inc., 1810 22nd Road, Sterling, KS  67579    
   
   
   
Phone 620-257-2508     Phone      
cell phone 620-257-8333            
Email Lee@ScheuflerFarms.com Email      
               
             
Statement of Problem            
               
Dryland corn yields are quite variable with rainfall in Central Kansas.  We would like to find a way of maximizing our returns on dryland corn by skip row planting.  Preliminary research by KSU and U of Nebraska for the High Plains area show increased yields for years with low rainfall and limited yield reductions for wet years.  We would like to determine what will happen on our farm.
             
Project Objectives            
               
To develop a data base of yield comparisons on our farm for skip row planting (plant 2, skip 1) dryland corn to be able to demonstrate to Crop Insurance that this is a viable method of planting before taking this to whole field planting situations.
             
Methodology              
               
At planting, we will adjust our JD1770 16X30 planter to plant 2 rows and not plant 1 row.  We will direct the fertilizer to a 2X2 band only on the rows with seed.  The seeding rate will be adjusted so the total seeds per acre will be the same as our standard rate (19,000) on planting every row.  We will alternate strips of the skip row configuration with strips of every row planting.  Harvesting will be done with an 8 row header.  Combine passes with 6, 5 and 8 rows will be recorded.  We would like to do this on at least 2 fields.
             
Expected outcome / Benefit to KARA          
Show the ease of doing on farm research with the Precision Ag Technology currently available on many farms.  Develop a database of probable outcomes for this seeding method to demonstrate to Crop Insurance and USDA FSA the viability of this method before adopting it on a field scale.