Yes I am a little crazy I have planted a trial of open pollinated dent corn. I am in the the southern thumb of Michigan and we have limited growing days as well as having heavy clay soil so our normal corn yields are around the 150 mark most years. I can remember in 91 in our area the good corn was about armpit high at harvest. I am in a unique position as I feel strongly against gmo crops. Normal hybrids are ok, but with open pollinated I can choose to keep back seed and I can also develop my own genetic line. As many small seed companies have been rounded up by big agbusiness I feel it is leaving a niche for "grandparent stock". In my situation getting started I need alternatives to normal corn soybean and wheat production. Having some seed business will help. I have penciled out and if the open pollinated can yield a 100 an acre it will be profitable. When you add up less seed cost, lower fertilizer inputs, higher protein of open pollinated yields premium, and non gmo premium, as well as hidden cost of high yields such as more grain to haul, more residue to deal with and added cost adds borrowed money to operating loans I feel I will be able to compete. I also will be much better leveraged when markets bottom out notice I did not say if I said when they do.
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Comment by Scott Edward Dudek on July 11, 2012 at 5:09pm update on corn as we continue our drought. It appears to be holding on better than most gmo hybrid and is showing less signs of severe stress. It has suprised me in a good way as it is tasseling and silks are out. Will it hold out through this heat and drought? I also solid seeded a small test area and it is truly amazing corn plants 2 to 3 inches apart solid and still growing with little rain we did get 2 weeks ago. anyone have any ideas to combine solid seeded corn??
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