NUTRITIONALLY DENSE CORN - UPDATED FOR 2003

Differentiating Characteristics: Nutritionally dense corn is designed to contain a stacked trait set of genetics specific in nutrient density, quality, and consistency. It is typically used in feeding hog, beef and dairy, either as grain or silage, to increase the efficiency of production. Protein content generally averages 10% compared to 9% for regular yellow dent corn. Oil content is also increased and recent tests show amino acids for lysine, threonine and tryptophan averages at 0.30%, 0.32%, and 0.08% d.b., respectively. Nutritionally dense corn was developed by Exceed Genetics and is licensed to several seed partners. Dow Agrosciences (Mycogen) had also worked with nutritionally enhanced corn, but does not plan to market any hybrids at this time.
Trends: Most nutritionally dense corn is grown for on-farm use or contracted locally, with a small amount going to the export market. Grain yield is similar to plot averages, but would be lower than the top performing hybrids. There are some agronomic concerns with nutritionally dense corn, such as lodging and performance under environmental stress, which has led to decreased acreages recently. In western Illinois there is a strong demand for nutritionally dense corn for hog feeding operations. These corn hybrids are currently non-GMO, but future nutritionally dense hybrid releases will have Bt technology incorporated into the genetics which will offer more agronomic incentive to produce this value added corn. Currently there is more demand than interest in producing nutritionally dense corn due to the agronomic concerns. In 2002 there were approximately 85,000 acres of nutritionally dense corn, and acreage is expected to remain flat in 2003.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The practices that are required for successful nutritionally dense corn production are essentially the same as those used for normal yellow dent corn. Growers should follow recommended agronomic practices, including the maintenance of good soil fertility and pest control to minimize stress and maximize yield potential and kernel quality. However, management practices that preserve grain identity from planting through storage should be followed to capture maximum value.

• Seed Selection. Select hybrids as you otherwise would. There are only five companies that handle nutritionally dense corn. Ask about yield history, maturity, standability, disease resistance, drought tolerance, dry-down and adaptability of recommended nutritionally dense corn numbers.
• Field Selection. plant nutritionally dense corn on well-drained soils to maximize yield and reduce stress.
• Crop Rotation. Plant corn following soybean to increase yield and decrease insect and disease pressure. Grain yields of rotated corn will typically be about 10% higher than corn following corn. This yield advantage is much more pronounced when stress occurs during the growing season. Rotating with soybeans also minimizes volunteer corn, which can cause contamination problems during pollination in nutritionally dense corn.
• Isolation.Isolation from non-nutritionally dense corn is necessary. Allow 12-16 border rows around field to eliminate cross-pollination. These border rows should be harvested and stored separately.
• Seedbed Preparation.Prepare a seedbed that will promote uniform seed emergence and crop development. Avoid cloddy soils with heavy residue and poor furrow closure conditions. Conventional and minimum till methods may provide for more even plant emergence than no-till.
• Plant Population.Follow recommended seeding rates, usually about 30,000 plants per acre to maximize yield.
• Planting Date.Plant early in the maturity window for the seed you select; the last half of April is the best planting period, if soil conditions permit. Planting early helps extend the grain filling period and reduces the likelihood of stress during pollination.
• Fertility. Use a balanced fertility program. While not essential in most of Illinois, starter fertilizer can promote uniform plant emergence for good pollination. Nitrogen should be used at a rate of 1.2 pounds per bushel of expected yield, minus 40 pounds nitrogen if following soybeans, and minus other nitrogen applications such as manure and DAP.
• Insect Management.Use an effective pest control program. Scout fields regularly for potential pest problems.
• Weed Control. Effective weed control for organic corn is usually provided by the following management practices mechanically till corn with rotary hoe four or five days after planting and once more after corn is up. Immediately start first cultivation after last pass with rotary hoe and cultivate two or more times depending on soil condition and degree-days.Propane burners may also be used for small weeds.

RECOMMENDED HARVEST AND POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

• Harvesting Nutritionally Dense Corn.To avoid excessive mechanical damage to kernels make sure the combine is properly adjusted. Combine and keep border rows separate for use as feed.
• Drying Strategies.Field drying is best and allows the kernel to reach full-maturity, but corn may be machine dried at low temperatures. Grain kernel temperature should be kept below 14°F during the entire drying process to minimize undesirable quality losses.
• Corn Handling and Cleaning. Make sure that augers to and from the dryer are not causing damage. Keep augers full when running and consider replacing pulleys to reduce auger speed and maintain grain quality. Clean dry corn before placing it into a storage bin to improve airflow and reduce the potential for spoilage problems. Storage bins should be swept clean prior to placing grain in them to reduce insect and contamination problems. Once a month during the fall and winter, you should run a cooling cycle to lower grain temperature by 10 to 15°F. The remainder of the time, the fan should be covered to minimize moisture accumulation in the stored grain, especially during premature warming periods in the early spring.

SAMPLE PARTIAL BUDGET ANALYSIS

• Per Acre Variable Cost Comparison:

• Premium:
  Premiums range from _$0.15-.25 per bushel
  Premium = $0.22 per bushel
• Increased Profit Potential Per Acre:
  Regular Hybrid Corn:
  155 Bu/acre x $2.35 per Bu = $364.25
  $364.25 - $196.00 expenses = $168.25 per acre Regular Hybrid Corn
  Nutritionally Dense Corn:
  140 Bu/acre x ($2.35 per Bu + $0.22 per Bu av. premium) = $359.80
  $359.80 - $199.00 expenses = $160.80 per acre Nutritionally Dense

  Added Value = ($7.45) per acre

• Trucking Costs:
  Semi - $2.00 per loaded mile.
  

ADDED VALUE CALCULATOR

ADDITIONAL WEBSITES

Sources:

• Experienced Grower Interviews, September – February 2000
• Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, Farm Income and Production Cost Summary from Illinois Farm Business Records 1997.
• ExSeed Genetics L.L.C.  www.exseedgenetics.com
• Keeneth, Terry.  Harvesting, Drying and Handling Food Corn in Southwest Indiana.
• Keeneth, Terry.  Southwest Indiana Food Corn Production and Resource Guide.
• Pfister Hybrid Corn Company. 1998-99 Superkernoil Product Guide.
• U.S. Feed Grains Council, 1998-1999 Value-Enhanced Corn Quality Report.
• University of Illinois.  Illinois Agronomy Handbook 1999-2000.
• Weigel, Jerry, and Clare Morganthaler. "The New Corn: What Nutritionists Really Want." Feed International. October, 1998.

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Rita Frerichs compiled the information contained in this fact sheet through interviews with experienced producers and from private sector company representatives. This information has not been validated through research carried out by University of Illinois scientists, but this fact sheet has been prepared under the technical supervision of Emerson D. Nafziger, Steven Eckhoff, and Dale Lattz, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This work has been carried out as part of a project to Improve Farm Incomes and Rural Communities through Specialty Farm Products funded by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) under the Special Research Initiative (SRI) on Rural Community Development.

For more information on other project activities and outputs, contact Burton E. Swanson, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, 332 Mumford Hall, 1301 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL. Tel: (217) 244-6978; Fax: (217) 333-5835 or by e-mail: swansonb@uiuc.edu.

The partial budget analysis presented above illustrates how to evaluate the potential economic returns of nutritionally dense corn. Producers should use their own cost and yield estimates, plus any premiums quoted by participating elevators in calculating estimated returns for their own situation.
This is the average premium expected for nutritionally dense corn as quoted by several seed companies and one firm responding to the Illinois Specialty Handler Survey.