1 Corn 2007 Ouachita Fertilizer. 2 Ouachita Commitment to you Increase yields Lower costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability.

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Corn 2007

Ouachita Fertilizer

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Ouachita Commitment to you

• Increase yields• Lower costs• Help solve those

production problems that limit profitability

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Delta Smart Systems

• The basis for our Crop Programs• Corn

• Cotton

• Sorghum

• Soybeans

• Sugarcane

• Wheat

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Delta Smart Systems

•A system to improve grower profits•High Q™

•Weather station data

•Plant tissue and soil samples

•Field observations

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High Q™

• A precise data-gathering system

• Identifies limiting factors

• Helps avoid repeated mistakes: continuous improvement

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OFC Weather Stations

• Mer Rouge• Winnsboro• Moreauville• Natchitoches• New Iberia

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OFC Weather Stations

•Exclusive to OFC; our stations•Use to track degree days,

irrigation scheduling and pest outbreaks

•Understand how weather impacts crop yields; historical reference

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Plant Tissue And Soil Samples

•Unique data base; available only through OFC

•Solve problems & lowers costs•OFC extensive inventory can

provide plant food needed to correct in-season problems

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Field Observations in 2006

• Six OFC salesmen •Field-tested 18 new products to see if

there is a fit for our growers (several to increase N efficiency to use less)

•Pulled 71 corn plant tissue samples to check plant food balance

•Sent seven samples to check for disease

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Corn 2006 DSS Summary

• 8,235 acres• 182 fields• 29 corn hybrids • Avg. yield 152

bu/acre (state yield 140 bu/acre)

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DSS for Corn 2004 to 2006

•DSS for Corn 2004 to 2006•20,977 acres enrolled•437 different fields•56 commercial corn hybrids evaluated

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Corn Acres in Louisiana

430

700

340 380315

580 520

420

330 290

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

000 a

cres

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

We have been here before: aflatoxin hits hard

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Opportunity for Corn Profits

We have been here before: aflatoxin hits corn hard

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How do We Capture Profits?

Based on DSS:•Planting Date•Hybrid Selection•Fertilizers•Planting Operations

Avoid Aflatoxin

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Planting Date: Based on DSS

•Optimum PD ranged from 3/10 to 3/21 in three years

•Plant when 5 day forecast shows DD accumulation greater than:•60 for low seedling vigor hybrids•40 for high seedling vigor hybrids

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Natchitoches Planting Dates

Natchitoches 5 Day DD

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

3/ 1 3/ 6 3/ 11 3/ 16 3/ 21 3/ 26 3/ 31

2006 2005 2004 2003

Circle shows highest yields

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Corn Planting Dates

Natchitoches Avg Daily Tempts

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

5/ 1 5/ 11 5/ 21 5/ 31 6/ 10 6/ 20

2006 2005 2004 2003

Highest yields in 2006 came from corn pollinating during this period

Corn should be pollinated prior to daily tempts averaging 750 (about May 25); hybrids range from 1300 to 1500 GDU from planting to pollination

Too hot for corn; losing moisture @ .25”/day

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Planting Date Summary

•Plant as quick and as early as we can

•Get plants off to a fast start•Try to be finished

pollination by May 25

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How do We Increase Profits?

Based on DSS:•Planting Date•Hybrid Selection•Fertilizers•Planting Operations

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Hybrid Selection in 2006

Brand

Non-irrigated Hybrid

Avg.Yield

Dekalb 66-23RR/YGCB 171

Pioneer33R81 RR/YGCB 164

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Hybrid Selection in 2005

Brand

Non-irrigated Hybrid

Avg.Yield

Pioneer 32D99 176

Dekalb69-71RR/

YGCB 164

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Hybrid Selection in 2004

Brand

Non-irrigated Hybrid

Avg.Yield

Dekalb 69-70BTY 158.7

Dekalb 69-71RR/YG 128.4

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Hybrid Selection to Reduce Aflatoxin

• Use Bt where possible• Select hybrids for:

• hard kernels• complete shuck coverage • good drought tolerance• full-season (>115 days)

maturity but with early pollination window (1300 to 1350 GDUs)

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How do We Increase Profits?

Based on DSS:• Rotation• Planting Date• Hybrid Selection• Fertilizers• Planting Operations

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Fertilizers Reduce Aflatoxin

•Fertility stress is a major factor•Aflatoxin is increased by hot

weather. Potash “cools” the plant•Aflatoxin is increased by dry

weather. Phosphates help “water” the plant

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Fertilizers Reduce Aflatoxin

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Potash’s Role in Corn Production

•Critical to cool the plant•Builds plant proteins•#1 defense against disease•Responsible for corn stalk

strength and lodging resistance

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Potash Increases Corn Yields

147

123

110

120

130

140

150Bu/

A

50 lbs. 0 lbs K

Potash I ncreases Corn

Yields

From DSS in 2006, applying 50 lbs per acre of banded potash added 24 bushels of corn per acre, a net increase of $76 per acre.

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Potash Rates in 2005

143160

201

129155

210

0

50

100

150

200

250

Bu.

/ A

Timely Planted Corn Late Planted Corn

30 lbs./a

60 lbs./a

80 lbs./a

Higher K rates on late planted corn helped overcome yield drag

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2005 Plant Tissue Samples

• Corn needs to have 2.25% K or higher for top yields

• Banded K had higher K levels in 2005

% potash GS 9

Banded 2.2Broadcast 1.9

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Phosphorous for Corn

• Increases water use efficiency •Root growth•Seed formation (kernel

numbers and rows)•Hastens maturity

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P Increases Corn Yields

162

129

100

120

140

160

180B

u/A

35 lbs. P 0 lbs. P

Phosphates Increases Corn

Yields

In the DSS Program in 2004, adding 35 lbs. per acre of phosphate in a band added more bushels of corn per acre.

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P Increases Corn Yields

154

122

100

120

140

160B

u/A

50 lbs. /A 20 lbs. / A

Phosphates I ncreases

Corn Yields

In 2006, adding an extra 30 lbs per acre of phosphate added 32 more bushels of corn per acre. This means $100 more per acre.

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Banding Increases Efficiency

•Phosphates (P) and potash (K) get tied-up in the soil:•1 lb. P & K in a band = 2 lbs. broadcast

•Injecting increases availability to roots

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Zinc in 2006 Corn

• Zinc increased corn yields by 15 bushels per acre.

• Banding zinc is the most efficient way to apply

• Zinc will lower moisture at harvest; less chance for aflatoxin

170

155

145

150

155

160

165

170

2 lbs. Zinc 1/2 lb Zinc

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Nitrogen Rates in 2005

Early Planted

100

140

180

220

Bu./A

Bu.

/A

180 lbs./A 220 lbs. /A

Late Planted

100

140

180

220

Bu./A

180 lbs./A 200 lbs. /A

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Optimum N Rates in 2006

I rrigated

100

140

180

220

Bu./A

Bu.

/A

160 to 180 220 to 240

Non- irrigated

100

140

180

220

Bu./A

160 to 180 180 to 200

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2005 Plant Tissue Samples

• Early N needs to be 5.0 for highest yields

• Growth Stage 3 is between 350 and 500 GDUs

• In 2005 = mid-April

2005 Avg. %

Nitrogen GS 3 Bu./A

5.1 2114.6 1974.0 1493.4 127

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2005 Plant Tissue Samples

• Showed that corn plants were starving for nitrogen before the roots could reach the sidedress fertilizer

• Plants low in N grow slower, have less grain per ear, has delayed pollination and more diseases

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Increasing Early N in Corn

• Background shows 30 lbs. N per acre with planter compared to none

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Value of Pre-emergence Nitrogen on Corn Yields

159

150 151

141 139

174

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

< 15 25 - 50 51- 75 76 -100 101 -125 126 - 150

Lbs. Nitrogen /Acre

Bu. /AHighest yields came from 25 to 50 lbs. /acre nitrogen prior to corn emergence

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Increasing Early N in Corn

•Apply 30 lbs. to 50 lbs./acre nitrogen prior to corn emergence

•Add balance of nitrogen at sidedress

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Sulfur on 2006 Corn

• Applying 15 lbs. /acre of sulfur increased yields by 19 bu/ acre, a $60 net income increase

142

123

110

120

130

140

150

11 to 15 lbs 6 to10 lbs

Sulfur on Corn 2006

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Low Boron Levels in Corn

• Boron is responsible for healthy root growth and resistant to diseases.

• A lack of boron in a corn plant results in:• Poor kernel

development.• The deterioration

of root and stem growing points.

• Stunted roots.

Boron deficient corn at left; note twisting of kernels toward tip.

Boron deficient corn at left; note twisting of kernels toward tip.

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2007 Corn Fertility Program

•Apply 30 to 50 lbs. N and 4 to 8 lbs. of sulfur at planting;

•OFC mixes uses clay to keep from losing nitrogen

•Apply balance of N plus P, K, S, Zn and B at sidedress

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How do We Increase Profits?

Based on DSS:• Rotation• Planting Date• Hybrid Selection• Fertility Program• Planting Operations

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Planter Calibration

• Researchers claim a 10 to 15% reduction in yields by using poorly calibrated planters.

• Results showed an increase of up to 23 bushels per acre when spacing corn evenly

• Uneven seed depth lowers yields from 5% to 25%.

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Planting Depth Affects Yields

•Shallow planting lowered yields by 11 bushels in field trials.

•Plant corn between 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.

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Planting Depth Affects Yields

• This photo show the same hybrid from the same field planted the same day with the same amount of fertilizer; one was planted too shallow

•Shallow planting produced less roots which caused a N deficiency.

•Shallow planting will cause moisture stress

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Impact of Planting Speed

Planting slower produced more corn

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How do We Capture Corn Profits?

•Planting Date; the race is on…•Hybrid Selection; offense sells

tickets (seed) but defense wins championships (makes profits)

•Fertilizers: beat the heat•Planting Operations: be the

ball

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Thank you!

Ouachita Fertilizer