North Carolina Corn Yields Looking Good

It’s been a few years since corn producers in the Carolinas were excited about their crop and its yield potential. NC State Extension Dr. Ron Heiniger says harvest is about half done, and it’s going very well:

“We are about half way through the corn harvest season here, and a lot of the corn in the southern part of the state is getting close to 70-80%. Yields have been outstanding across the state, even in some areas where they got less rainfall. In Lumberton we have had reports of over 250 bushels.”
 

Heiniger is also hearing of some good irrigated yields in the central Coastal Plain region:
 

“In Johnson and Duplin Counties they are averaging about 140 bushels and some of the irrigated yields are up in the high 200s.”
 

Speaking of irrigation, Heiniger says even in a year where rain has been mostly adequate, irrigation has made a marked difference:
 

“We are still looking at a difference of 10-40 bushels. I think just being able to get a little water during that critical summer period makes a difference.”
 

Just over a month ago at the Blackland Farm Managers Field Day in Hyde County, NC Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler offered a hundred dollar bill out of his own pocket to the first certified 400 bushel acre of corn. Heiniger’s thoughts on the prospect of the Commissioner having to pay up:
 

“I have a feeling we won’t quite catch that number. I do know a few that will take a swipe at it at over 300 bushels, but I haven’t heard of any over that 400 mark.”
 

NC State Extension Corn Specialist Dr. Ron Heiniger.