More Than Half of Corn Farmers Experiencing Drought Stress This Season, Poll Shows
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JOHNSTON, Iowa -- It’s been another exceptionally dry summer across many parts of the Corn Belt, and as farmers prepare for harvest, they are anxiously scouting crops for signs of drought stress. A recent Pioneer poll of nearly 500 corn farmers shows that more than half said they were dealing with moderate to severe drought stress this season.
While only rain can change fortunes at this point, planning for next year can help ensure fields are more resilient. According to Dan Berning, Pioneer Agronomy Manager for the Western Commercial Unit, it starts with understanding the effects of drought stress.
“Under moderate stress levels, we can see shorter plants or smaller leaves if it occurs during the vegetative growth stage. We may miss a few kernels if it occurs during the pollination period. At grain fill timing, we’ll tend to see less kernel depth,” Berning said. “Under severe drought stress, we can really begin to see the plant tissues of the leaves scald or flash. We can also frequently see nutrient deficiencies like nitrogen or potassium because the plant isn’t able to pull up enough moisture through the roots and bring those nutrients with it. Under severe stress, we’ll even see premature death.”
Another consideration is the growth stage of the plant when the drought stress occurs.
“A number of research studies have shown that the most detrimental window of drought stress occurs during the flowering, while pollinating, and even into the early kernel set,” Berning said. “When more severe drought stress happens at that stage, we can regularly see 50% yield loss.”
Generally, most drought stress occurs in the latter half of the growing season, when the corn’s demand for water is the highest. But outside of irrigation or rain, there isn’t much that can be done to alleviate stress at that point. Early season drought stress is less common and usually less detrimental to corn yield, but there are effective ways to keep it from negatively impacting the crop and ultimately set up corn for better success later in the season.
Leading into 2023, Berning shared five tips to help reduce the risk of drought affecting cornfields next season:
“Pioneer’s new class of hybrids continue to get better and raise that bar higher — on average, genetic gain for drought tolerance has improved about a score to a score and a half over the last decade,” Berning said. “This means that hybrids that would have scored an eight for drought tolerance a decade ago, would now be scored closer to a six or a seven if they were being advanced to commercial status today.”
Pioneer breeders score advancing drought-tolerant hybrids on a scale of one to nine, with nine being the highest drought tolerance score.
Growers can find additional resources on drought management by visiting the Drought Management & Solutions page on Pioneer.com, or by contacting their local Pioneer field agronomist.
NOTE: PIONEER AGRONOMY MANAGER DAN BERNING IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILED ADVICE FOR DROUGHT MANAGEMENT IN CORN. ADDITIONALLY, PIONEER AND CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE EXPERTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE 2022 FARM PROGRESS SHOW IN BOONE, IOWA FROM AUG. 30 - SEPT. 1.
About Pioneer
Pioneer, the flagship seed brand of Corteva Agriscience, is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere.
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About Corteva Agriscience
Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that combines industry-leading innovations, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world’s most pressing agriculture challenges. Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to maximizing productivity for farmers, while working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. More information can be found at www.corteva.com.
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