Shane Susie (left) of Kingsley, IA shares tips on ensuring a productive corn crop following cereal rye.
Spoon-feeding N and S at planting: Shane uses a FurrowJet to apply 25 pounds of N/acre in amino-based product. However, he notes that most people who are not using amino-based products would be better off using a 2x2 or 2x2x2 application of “melted down” AMS or Liquid N. When variable-rate-applying AMS, Shane applies an average rate of 100# AMS/acre. “Sulfur deficiencies are more common than most people realize,” he says. N applied at planting doesn’t need to be additional N; it can be reduced from the total rate.
Timing termination: For an overwintered cover crop ahead of corn, Shane recommends terminating the cover crop two weeks prior to planting, to allow sufficient time for the residue to dry out, or for advanced operators, three to four days after planting. Terminating the rye earlier than three days after planting could result in partial termination as the planter-damaged cover crop will not metabolize the herbicide. Due to dry sub-soil conditions, Shane plans to terminate more of his fields earlier. He will use 3 oz Calisto, 1 pint Atrazine and 12 oz Roundup / acre.
Avoiding wrapping and open seed trenches: Shane recommends SharkTooth® trash whippers, which don’t plug up or wrap as much as other types of trash whippers. If you run coulters, Shane recommends that you lift them up to a 1-inch depth to avoid “muddying up” the seed trench.
