ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

The results are in. Stine® short-stature corn has been named Agri Marketing magazine’s 2023 Product of the Year! Established in 2001, Agri Marketing’s Product of the Year award recognizes products and services that are making a significant impact on the production of food, fuel, feed, fiber and protein.

 “When we started this journey, our goal was never to make corn shorter, but simply to increase yields,” says Myron Stine, company president. “Nonetheless, we are thrilled to be recognized for our decades of leadership in this rapidly emerging segment of short-stature corn.”

Judging criteria for the award included categories such as market environment, industry recognition, benefit and value added to the marketplace and strategic marketing/sales approach.

“Each year since 2001, Agri Marketing magazine has held its Product of the Year program,” says Lynn Henderson, the publication’s publisher/editorial director. “The program is held to recognize the outstanding technology that is being introduced to North American crop and livestock producers to help them become more efficient and profitable.

“This year, the program’s judges selected Stine’s short-stature corn to join the elite products which have included Roundup Ready technology, Bt-traited corn, John Deere’s autonomous tractor, plus many others. I’d like to be the first to congratulate the Stine team on receiving this high honor.”

A panel of distinguished agribusiness professionals judged this year’s awards. Henderson notes the judges were selected based on their independence, broad and deep knowledge of agricultural technology and leadership in the industry. Judges included:

• Jim Borel, executive VP of DuPont (retired) who oversaw its DuPont Pioneer, Crop Protection and other ag/food divisions;

• Clayton Becker, president/CEO of Farmers National Co., which is the nation’s largest professional farm management firm overseeing over 2 million acres of cropland. He is a former executive of Syngenta;

• Bill Northey, CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa and former Secretary of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Undersecretary of the USDA;

• Scott Downey, director of Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics;

• Ryan Hassebrook, CEO of Servitech, the nation's largest independent crop consulting firm; and

• Lynn Henderson, publisher/editorial director of Agri Marketing magazine who has served on the Boards of Directors of the National 4-H Council, National Agri-Marketing Association, National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants and several other organizations.

Stine’s short-stature corn will be featured in the Agri Marketing magazine edition published later this month. Be on the lookout for the article on their website, AgriMarketing.com.

To learn more about Stine short-stature corn, view our latest article on the advantages of short corn or listen to this episode of the Stine Seedcast. To speak to a Stine rep about finding short-corn options for your fields, find your local rep here. Remember, STINE HAS YIELD.

2023 taught us that no season is the same and we must be flexible to adapt to what Mother Nature brings our way. The drought in the Corn Belt and South threw a wrench in growers’ in-season plans. Fortunately, Stine® genetics persisted and even thrived under pressure.

“Yields were still there,” says Mark Johnson, Stine corn technical agronomist. “I think it goes back to breeding. What we’re doing with our corn and soybean genetics and how we’ve progressed over the years … The genetics have improved and are better equipped to adapt to these extreme situations.”  

Stine has spent decades researching and developing high-yielding genetics in various maturity ranges for different environments. While genetic selection is important in any given year, so are the cultural practices you pair with them.

“As we advance, we’re seeing different trends of what we can do to support genetics,” says Johnson. “We can utilize no-till, strip tilling … We can do things so that we’re not letting the moisture escape so readily when the drought sets in.”

Waiting for the right time to plant is critical to start the season off right, Johnson notes.

Early planting has become common practice for both corn and soybeans. Early planting can benefit the crop if the extended weather forecast is favorable. However, in some cases, like we saw in the South last year, it can lead to replant.

“In the South down in Louisiana and southern Arkansas, there was an early warm up in February,” says Johnson “Some people planted too quickly, even the third week in February. Then, a cold snap came back with a vengeance. Thousands of acres were affected, and replant came into play. No matter what the weather might be, you need to wait.”

Planting into cold soils can be especially challenging for corn and soybeans as the seed is vulnerable to imbibitional chilling, leading to uneven emergence. Corn is particularly at risk. If it sits in the ground longer than it should, the plant is forced to live off the energy and nutrients stored in the seed.

In an April 2023 article, Stine technical agronomist Tony Lenz noted corn imbibes 30% of its weight in water before it germinates. It can severely disrupt the germination process if it imbibes cold moisture within 24–48 hours after planting. It can also lead to issues with the developing embryo, including corkscrew effect of the mesocotyl, which can result in the death of the seedling.

Planting into cold soils can impact the early vegetative stages of the plant and weaken its root structure in the long haul. Also, planting into cold and wet soils can lead to sidewall compaction, limiting your crop’s ability to thrive during the growing season. When in doubt, it’s best to wait until soils are consistently 50+ degrees Fahrenheit for more than a few days and the extended weather forecast is clear of cold rains for 24–48 hours after your anticipated planting dates.

The growing season ahead

Knowing what 2023 brought to corn and soybean growers, Mark Johnson has a few tips for the upcoming planting and growing season.

1. Know your fields. What corn hybrids and soybean varieties have worked in the past? Which ones haven’t panned out? Know what genetics work best in each field. Also, understand the soil on each field. If you’re unsure what lies below, consider soil testing. And review what diseases and pests could be present and what cultural practices work for each field. Consider crop rotation where it makes sense.
   
   
2. Have a game plan. Sit down, go through your options for each field and map out a plan. Study your soil sample results to determine your fertilizer needs, including your pH levels and how that impacts your inputs. Plan for all the variables that will give your soil the best chance to maximize yield. Have a game plan to help you control the things in front of you and be proactive versus reactive in-season.
   
   
3. Leverage your relationships with your seed reps. Stine regional sales agronomists and independent sales reps are available year-round to discuss every part of the crop production process with you. They can help you with product selection, seed treatment options, inputs such as fertilizers and insecticides, weed control, and any other variable before planting begins and throughout the growing season.

To learn more about the year that was and what growers can do to get ahead in 2024, listen to Johnson’s episode of the Stine Seedcast wherever you get your podcasts. To speak to a Stine rep about your planting plan before the season kicks off, find your local rep here.

STINE^® HAS YIELD, and that goes well beyond the farm. We thrive on being active in and out of the field to yield results and action in the communities where we live and work. That include supporting our youngest, most vulnerable populations in times of need through the Harvesting Wishes^® Program.

A collaboration with Make-A-Wish^® Iowa, Stine announced the formation of Harvesting Wishes in summer 2023 — a unique program to engage farmers and agricultural workers across the country to participate in granting life-changing wishes to kids with critical illnesses in their communities. The program is available to our customers nationwide in 2024, and individuals can direct their donation to children in a community of their choosing. Specifically, Stine corn customers donating to Make-A-Wish can earn a $20/unit discount on all full price increase corn units purchased, shipped and planted in the 2024 season. There’s still time to participate!

“There’s nothing more important than our youth,” says Myron Stine, company president. “Unfortunately, many children throughout the United States are afflicted with critical illnesses. For all their struggles, they need something BIG to brighten their lives, and the Harvesting Wishes Program helps turn their wishes into reality. I couldn’t imagine a more deserving audience.”

The process to participate in Stine’s Harvesting Wishes Program is simple:

1. Purchase Stine corn to be shipped and planted in the 2024 season.
2. Qualify to earn a $20/unit discount on qualifying corn units increased over 2023.*
3. Pledge a donation to Make-A-Wish’s Harvesting Wishes Program in an amount equal to the entire earned discount.*
4. Complete your donation to Make-A-Wish to help cultivate hope for children with critical illnesses.*

There are also other ways individuals can participate, including by providing in-kind, monetary or supply requests, which can be done through the program’s website, HarvestingWishes.org.  Alternatively, farmers can donate Gifts of Grain. To learn more about Harvesting Wishes and how you can get involved, talk to your local Stine sales rep.

*Certain restrictions apply. See official rules and eligibility requirements at StineSeed.com/harvestingwishes. Stine’s Harvesting Wishes Program is open to both new and existing Stine corn customers and can be used in conjunction with other discounts and incentives offered by Stine Seed Company on qualifying purchases. Eligible discounts earned will be in the form of an “adjustment” of the final statement once the donation has been fulfilled with Make-A-Wish. Donations to Make-A-Wish may be tax deductible as a charitable donation.Consult a tax professional regarding options.