It seems the summer has been flying by. Even with the cooler than normal weather and excessive rainfall - the corn plantings this year tasseled and eared out on schedule.

I was going to mak this the last picture update - but I think I will post back after the first frosts come - and all growth has stopped.

After the pictures here - I'll summarize what worked and didn't work for us in this experimental season.

First - Here are pictures of the Manually Cultivated field from 8-22-04. You can see that the corn has finally cleared the weeds - but at great cost. Less than 1 in 5 plants that tasseled will have much of any ear - and that many again never got above the weeds at all, and have no tassels or ears.



Second... The Round-up Corn really did do well. Also - its hard not to consider the RR Soybeans we planted with the corn - you'll see them in almost every picture - all 8-22-04:







in the next picture - the large tree in the backround is on a hedgerow that connects two wood lots - there is a 10 acre hayfield behind it - and a 10 yd lane between the corn & hedgerow. A 15 ft ladder stand gaurds the cooridoor.





So - I thought I'd summarize what did and did not work for us - and what I might do different next time.

First - with the manually cultivated corn - I probably will not do it again - But, that doesn't mean it cannot work - it worked for us the past 3 or 4 seasons to varying degrees! - Our biggest problem with the Cultivated plot - was that this was the 3rd yr on the same plot for corn with NO WEED control. Imagine the sheer numbers of residual seeds form the weeds in the plot over the previous years. Throw in a cool wet summer - and the weeds WIN.. If I were to plant corn like this again - I would start in a spot that had been hay the year before - or some other crop if possible. Then I would Spray Round up BEFORE plowing - wait 2 weeks and prepare the plot for Manual Cultivation. Cultivate at least 3 times - and figure 150 lbs N per acre (or as directed by the soil sample).

Second - Even though the Round up plot did real well - there are a few things that I plan to change for next year corn planting -

First - I would not plant it has heavy. Our bag of 80,000 kernals planted about 2 acres - it should have been more like 3 to 3-1/2 acres. We still got a very good yield - but it could have been better I think if the corn plants were further apart.

Second - I would like to try spraying a second time around 7-4 - at least in some areas - to see if it made a noticeable difference in yield.

Third - I did not igure enough Nitrogen in a couple spots - the cultivated plot included. Based on how the corn respoded to UREA in a couple areas - I would Up it for next year if I planted corn in the same spot again.

last - Since the weeds are killed off in the first spraying - I would probably put mor N (Urea) down at planting - or even Pre-planting - to help the corn get a better start. - I would at least try an experimantal area.

Overall I'm pleased with both plots - considering. Also - I Really appreciate so many people reading this post. If anyone has specific questions - please let me know.

Thanks
FH