b'Is Short-Statured Corn the Future?More densely planted, shorter-statured corn is believed by many in the agriculture industry to be a path to better sustainability.Lisa KopochinskiIN OUR CHANGINGclimate, feed- help increase per-acre yields so growersthe opportunity to plant at higher ing a growing world population willcan maximize production on currentlydensities (where the genetics support require many solutions, one of which mayavailable land. this), increasing the leaf surface area include short-statured corn. Our goal was never to create shorterper acre (for maximum photosynthe-Brian Leake is director of externalcorn, he says. Our goal from the begin- sis) as well as the number of ears per communications for Bayer Crop Science,ning has always been to create higher- acre, resulting in higher yield;North America. He believes short-staturedyielding corn. By focusing on yield andnarrowed row spacing and increased corn varieties can stand up better againststandability, while eliminating potentialplant populations, while simultane-increasingly frequent significant weathercheat factors such as shading effect inously improving equidistant plant events and may help growers mitigatetwo-row plot trials, our corn geneticsspacing (the amount of space a corn crop loss, while enabling them to be morehave been shifting to be generally shorterplant has on all four sides);prescriptive in their use of inputs. than historical averages. This trend hasimproved in-season access for spray-Shorter plant architecture enablesbeen ongoing for more than three dec- ing or other purposes; andincreased opportunities to unlock yieldades. improved erosion control: as rows potential and could lead to more efficientnarrow and canopy density becomes use of key resources while minimizingShort Crop Advantages thicker and more consistent, rain-annual crop losses due to lodging andShorter corn may have a variety ofdrops are less likely to land on bare greensnap, he says. advantages such as: soil. Equidistant plant spacing may David Thompson, national marketingreduced risk of lodging and subse- also lead to less water channeling, and sales director at Stine Seed Companyquent down corn;which can potentially reduce erosion.near Adel, Iowa, says improved genet- improved spacing interval betweenThompson emphasizes that shorter ics, when coupled with the right culturalthe tassel and the uppermost ear tocorn does not necessarily require lower practices and agronomic expertise, canhelp improve pollination; nutrient input levels. This drone image was taken in Central Iowa in August 2020 after the Derecho wind event that tore through Iowa. One can notice how the shorter genetics withstood the straight-line winds much better than the taller genetics.PHOTO: STINE SEED COMPANY18/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'