Not all farms, fields or soils are suited for the classic corn-soybean rotation. Experience and the right red equipment have helped Minnesota’s Connelly brothers go corn-on-corn exclusively each of the last four years. It’s the best option across their operation.
“I do projections for every farm, every year, and corn comes out on top,” Chad Connelly explains. “Part of the reason is our soils. They’re high in soluble salts that can be a factor contributing to iron chlorosis in soybeans. It’s hard for us to get soybean yields beyond the mid-40s on ground that produces 200-bushel corn.”[Tweet “Corn-on-corn takes the right equipment and higher level management. Via @Case_IH #BeReady “]
Chad and his brother, Jason, farm 4,200 acres near Benson. They’ve identified several critical factors for corn-on-corn success, including:
Manage crop residue. A stalk-chopping corn head starts the process and is followed immediately with a vertical tillage tool. As-needed spring tillage preps fields for planting.
Manage nitrogen. The Connellys make five applications per crop year, starting in fall and concluding with a side dress beginning at the four- to five-leaf stage.
Stay efficient. Corn-on-corn requires a higher level of management. Most of the Connellys’ land is relatively close in proximity and consists of larger fields. Bigger equipment reduces field passes and, thus, compaction.
Nearly all of the Connellys’ equipment is Case IH. “It’s been good equipment across the board, even down to the little Farmall 75A we use as a yard tractor. And our Case IH dealer has been really good to us; they are good guys to work with,” Chad says.
The Connellys’ Case IH equipment lineup includes:
- Steiger® Quadtrac® 600 tractor
- Steiger Rowtrac® 450 tractor
- Patriot® series 4260 sprayer
- Ecolo-Tiger® 870 disk ripper
- Tiger-Mate® 200 field cultivator
- 1260 Early Riser® planter
- Axial-Flow® 9230 combine
- Farmall® 75A tractor
- Advanced Farming Systems
From AFS to tracked technology to Case IH Agronomic Design™, each equipment decision helps the Connellys meet the unique challenges in their farming operation. Learn about these corn-on-corn specialists in the latest issue of Farm Forum. Then talk to your Case IH dealer about how our equipment solutions can help you manage your own tough challenges.