Two production efforts were made this past summer towards the establishment of a potentially viable corn production system in Saskatchewan. This is not an altogether new idea for Saskatchewan, as several producers, mainly in the south, have grown corn in past years, primarily for cattle feeding. Similar efforts have been tried, both in Manitoba and Alberta They met with varying degrees of success, and were almost always searching for a suitable variety to meet their specific needs.
Recent releases of new varieties of short season dryland corn have come into play that have direct application for the prairie market, especially the southern parts, where sufficient heat units enable chances of successful production. One variety, known as CanaMaize, out of Manitoba was widely distributed to prairie producers who were interested in somewhat larger acres, but still on a "trial basis", and completely at the growers' risk. A fair bit came into the southeast growing area that I am most familiar with. Some successes were recorded, but with a very wet, cool spring and summer, most producers felt it just did not have a fair chance, and some are probably going to try it again. They said they learned a lot and we hope they are able to apply the knowledge for next year. They all said, "the neighbors sure as heck were interested".
Another variety, Cargill 1077, was tried on a more limited basis, with the same rules, and showed equally as variable results. I spoke with a good number of the growers that felt that "they would like to try it again in a normal year". Frost in the fall proved to be a downfall for most, as they predicted it might be during the spring extended planting season. One grower harvested his crop at about 35% moisture and dried the grain by running it through the drier 3 times to treat it in a gentle manner. His final realized yield was 70 bus/ac.
On reviewing all the comments and evaluations from this production experiments and trials, I found a number of similarities, as follows: Seeding rate is important. Recommended rates of 50,000 plants per acre may be slightly high for good yield. This works out to about 25-26 Lb./Ac of seed. A slightly lower rate of about 23 Lb. Seemed to give more yield, probably because the plants were able to set and fill 2 cobs per plant versus the higher seeding rate which produced only 1 cob for most plants. Fertilization was important to get the crop off to a rapid start and sustain the rapid growth rate to allow for proper maturity and physiological development. A fertilization rate slightly higher than used for above average target yields of spring wheat seemed to be the best, under this year's growing conditions. Weed control became important, as was expected. Anyone who experienced less than desired weed control in the crop, usually tried to guess what weed control product or scheme would work best from the menu of items they had access to in their local herbicide outlets.
A lot of producers were not aware of new weed control products available for the proper treatment of corn, as listed in the Saskatchewan Guide To Crop Protection books, published each year and distributed through extension office outlets all over the province.
In summary, it could be described as a good first experience with a crop that is new to a lot of producers, but those who took a serious look at what they produce and what they get for it, showed corn as a crop that bears another look. Economics, it seems, are still the engine that makes us look at what we do on the farm and this is a good thing.
We hope 2000 shows results that are favorable to you as producers, and that corn will eventually become one of your rotation crop decisions to help you survive it the future.