The Yields Are In…
If you’re a loyal follower of our blog or a friend of Mike Larson’s (and who isn’t?!), you’ve no doubt heard rumblings of the 400 Bushel Project over the past few months.
Mike’s goal to attain 400 bushel corn yields came to fruition with the help of corn guru John McGillicuddy, who consulted on the project.
In an age of high-tech agricultural advances, Mike went back to the basics. From the equidistance plywood planter to the special irrigation fertilizer system (pvc pipe and a 30 gallon poly drum) to the process of hand-harvesting, this project has been seriously low-tech.
Hand-shelling the three hybrids featured in the project became tedious, so Mike recruited PFS staff to help with the harvest. Harvest was completed using an antique corn-sheller, teamwork, and muscle!
Despite the low-tech nature of the project, results and findings were significant, bringing up conversations about precision planting techniques and the impact of planting high populations. When all was said and done, the yields did not quite reach 400 bushels.
The untreated hybrid was planted with the same equidistance planter, but did not receive additional nutrients.
The experiment generated quite a bit of buzz. Shawna Olson from KFGO visited PFS for a first-hand look at the project. Her podcast paints a picture of the experiment from the beginning. An Agweek article featuring the 400 Bushel Project was picked up by SeedToday.com and eNews Daily Soyatech, as well as many regional media outlets.
Mike discusses the 400 Bushel Project with Shawna Olson from KFGO
The plot endured nature’s challenges throughout the growing season, including being under water on two occasions, and being hit with hail and strong winds. Through it all, it had Mike’s tender care. Many mornings, the first thing he’d announce when walking in the office was, “I’ve been out feeding the 400!”.
What began as a fun experiment became a great learning experience. The project created a lot of grower interest, and Mike plans to expand it next year. This fall, we will do our best to improve soil health in preparation for next spring. As Mike said, “I don’t know if this is cutting edge, but it’s sure been a lot of fun”.
