Figuring Corn Yield

Fergienewbee · Dec 1, 2014

Here's what I did. I picked 10 ears at random, shelled them, and weighed one ounce of kernels. I then weighed all the kernels from the 10 ears and came up with an average of 340 kernels per ear.

Next I counted 50 ears in a 20-foot row based on a row width of 26" and a [plant spacing of 3+". That represents 1/1000 of an acre. I multiplied the 50 ears by 1000 to get 50,000 ears per acre. Took the 340 kernels per ear time 50,000 ears yields 17,000,000 kernels. I divided this number by 90,000 seeds per bushel and had a yield of 189 bu/acre. Does that sound right? If that's correct, not bad for a food plot.

Larry

JCinKY · Dec 1, 2014

Decent rough estimate. I'd multiply by about .80 (80%) due to crop loss, damage, spillage, etc.

1000 acres is a mighty big food plot... :lol:

Fergienewbee · Dec 1, 2014

Even at 80%, that's not bad. I fertilized for 125 bpa. got lucky with the weather,

Larry

paul · Dec 1, 2014

What was the moisture of the corn, you might need to adjust if you were over 15%.

Then, how heavy did you plant? 50,000 plants per acre is extremely heavy, hard to believe..... In good ground 32,000 to 36,000 is a heavy planting, hard to believe you can get 50,000 standing productive plants in a food plant acre. I'm going to question this one deal all week long, I just don't believe that is doable.....

Then, we humans have this (proven, by the universities...) tendency to pick the best ear we see when we 'randomly' choose ears to harvest. The correct way is to pick an ear, then count over 9 ears and take -that- ear, no matter what it looks like. This gets a much more representative (and lower yielding!) proper sample.

But either way, you have discovered the proper way to get your corn yield and tell the neighbors at the coffee shop. Your way is exactly how it is done.

Paul

Bonnan · Dec 1, 2014

Paul, er that's 50000 ears not plants per acre. or am I wrong?

Fergienewbee · Dec 1, 2014

Paul;

I was very selective in not taking the best ears. I had maybe 20% that were decent ears as far as length and filling. I skipped across rows, got further inside the plot and avoided the areas where there were fewer plants, which would have produced bigger ears. I didn't want to skew the sample to my benefit. I planted very heavy by accident; I got my sprockets reversed. Since it's only food plots, I wasn't worried about moisture content. Maybe I should get a couple of good ears and count/weigh those and then get a couple of poorer ears and do those to get a mean. I counted 50 ears in a 20-foot row. Based on my sample, that would yield 17,000 kernels or even at 80% would yield 13,360. It was interesting to do for fun and at least tells me I'm on target with my inputs.

Larry

paul · Dec 1, 2014

Yup.

Field corn, 1 ear per plant is optimum.

If you get more, you end up planted too thin, or the second ear will abort and suck nutrients away from the good ear.

Paul

1206SWMO · Dec 1, 2014

In my area we shoot for 27,000 plants per acre with 1 ear per stalk..This year with perfect weather lots raised 190-200 bushels per acre when 130 is normal..

50,000 is far too thick anywhere as expensive as seed is..

LarrySTN · Dec 1, 2014

Rather than trying to figure ears per/acre to come up yield, use 56lbs/bu after you have adjusted for moisture will give lots more accurate figure.

Bob · Dec 1, 2014

fergy, sadly, there is only ONE yield that counts, and that is based on your settlement sheet/grain check after harvest is done and all moisture discounts/drying/quality adjustments/test weight/shrinkage, etc. is taken into account.

All the rest is just good for puffing out your chest/talking smack at the local coffee shop, or playing a game of oneupsmanship with your friends and neighbors.

Fergienewbee · Dec 1, 2014

Bob;

Based on your assessment I lost my a##. I don't sell a single kernel. It's all for wildlife and the joy in seeing things grow. On that basis, I had a record season.

If I use the 56#/bushel I come up with a yield of 165 bpa not considering moisture. In my corn, one ounce held 115 kernels. I figured 17 million kernels divided by 1840 kernels per pound equals 9239 pounds divided by 56 pounds per bushel yields 165 bpa.

Larry

John_PA · Dec 1, 2014

I'm curious why you went with a 26 inch row space? You said you have 3 inch spacing between the plants in 26 inch rows? That's 80,000 plant population which I think it really REALLY thick!

Or did I read that wrong?

Fergienewbee · Dec 2, 2014

John_Pa;

My tractor is set up with 52" center to center of my rear wheels. The 3-plus plant spacing was a mistake with reversing the sprockets. I wanted around 8" spacing but ended up with about 3-1/4". I wondered why it took so much seed while I was planting. I got a good stand, but the ears are small.

Larry

mkirsch · Dec 2, 2014

Where do you get corn that only produces 1 ear per plant?

I've only ever encountered two-eared corn plants, with the occasional mutant spawning a third ear. On the two-eared varieties, both ears seem fairly equal in size and quality.

Figuring Corn Yield

Fergienewbee

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JCinKY

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Fergienewbee

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paul

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Bonnan

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Fergienewbee

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paul

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1206SWMO

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LarrySTN

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Bob

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Fergienewbee

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mkirsch

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