Northeast Texas corn growers detail their methods

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

One feature of the recent Ag Technology Conference was a panel of experienced farmers: (from left) Jimmy West, Ben Scholz, Jay Norman, Ronnie Lumpkins, and Butch Aycock. -Staff photo by Montgomery

January 2, 2003 -- Ever wonder what all it takes to grow the corn in Northeast Texas fields?

During the recent Ag Technology Conference at Texas A&M-Commerce, a panel of five Northeast Texas corn growers - Ronnie Lumpkins of Leonard, Ben Scholz of Wylie, Jay Norman of Wolfe City, Butch Aycock of McKinney, and Jimmy West of Roxton - explained their "Corn Production Practices."

To get started, the growers detailed land preparation, then crops planted.

Aycock has a conventional till operation. Norman plows in the fall and uses Roundup Ready® corn. Roundup Ready® corn is also used by Scholz and Lumpkins.

Roundup Ready® corn, is genetically modified, and contains in-plant tolerance to Roundup® brand herbicides, which, according to Monsanto, the manufacturer. The process enables growers to spray Roundup® brands of herbicides over the top.

With fertilizer, the growers use different ratios of 18-36, potassium magnesium, 10-34 and zinc; and they side-dress.

One question asked was, "How many trips are made into the field?"

"If everything goes right, we will have three trips (two row-tandem trips and then one for planting) into the field," said Lumpkins about his operation.

"I ideally try to plow twice," Norman replied.

Others stated they also "try to keep the number of trips down."

When it comes time to plant, the growers' had different growing lengths for their corn, but all planted around the same time of the year with the exception of West.

Scholz explained they "start planting around the last week of February. That gives us 112 to 120 day corn."

Norman, Aycock, and Lumpkins begin around March 1.

West explained that because of his soil type and rainfall, "We beginning planting Feb. 10 and plant until we get done. We have a 90- to 120-day corn."

Another question was about rotational growing.

"I have had three crop mixes. Lately, I dropped cotton. Now, I have wheat and corn," said Scholz.

Norman rotates wheat and corn.

Aycock has been growing continuous corn for the last nine years. "I average a 70 to 80 percent, per year, corn crop," Aycock said.

West has a combination of one-half corn, one-fourth soybeans and one-fourth wheat, which has lead to "corn-on-corn before."

As far as planters, three growers have a 24-row planter with 30-inch spacers. West uses a 16-row planter, 30-inch spacers; and Scholz uses as 12-row planter, 30-inch spacers.

Herbicides used by the panel also differ.

Lumpkins said, "I have Round-Up Ready® corn. I have used Accent® to Beacon®. It seems like everything we have put on the corn has hurt the corn."

Scholz also uses Round-up Ready® corn, but he uses Atrazine® herbicide.

Norman uses Lasso® on conventional corn. "I have used Peak® and Permit® over the top, but I think the Round-Up Ready® program is going to help."

Aycock uses a pre-plant emergence herbicide.

West added, "I have tried every herbicide that has come down the pike."

One obvious thing about the panel of five was growing corn is a way of life. Even though the growers have similar, but different, growing techniques, they all agreed on the hardest obstacles facing the industry.

"Marketing," stated Lumpkins.

"There is a time factor due to weather and it is hard to find good help," Norman replied.

West echoed the sentiments but also brought to the audience's attention that the "inputs (seed, fertilizer, etc.) are so expensive and income is low that it is hard to make a profit."