Invitation for Participation – Corn Verification Program

Have you been disappointed in your corn yields, don’t have a lot of experience growing corn, or just interested in some assistance with your program?  The MSU Extension Service Corn Verification Program is an interactive, hands-on opportunity with the ultimate goal of improving corn profitability on your farm.  This program is supported by generous funding from the Mississippi Corn Promotion Board and your Corn Checkoff for which we are very grateful and dedicated to success.  We are looking for cooperators for the 2012 growing season and extend this as an invitation and explanation of the program.

If you would like to participate, we will choose a field on your farm to implement proven or new tactics, which differ in some respect from your normal program.  We will do so after first evaluating your production system, so we can develop strategies capable of accomplishing the goals, specifically suited for your farm.  Any management practice is subject to evaluation, from hybrid selection, weed control, soil fertility, pest management, and many other variables.  Often times, we may wish to alter timing or method of implementation of various practices, including nitrogen or herbicide application, or irrigation.  We are also closely evaluating the effect of planter ground speed and metering system on corn seedling uniformity, emergence and performance.  Thus, we expect you to be open and willing to incorporate such variables in your system, which is why we select one field for this purpose.

Development and involvement in this program will likely also help identify key production limitations, so the potential impact may extend across the state, region or even country.  Thus, Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Experiment Station can better direct efforts to develop innovations for our specific problems.  By implementing specific strategies in grower fields, this program will hopefully demonstrate value associated with innovative and/or best-management practices and their incorporation in well-executed management systems to ultimately improve corn profitability and sustainability for all Mississippi farms.  By doing so, Mississippi’s entire agricultural industry, including suppliers, retailers, crop consultants, and consumers will benefit.

If you are interested in participating in the Corn Verification Program or have any questions, please contact Dr. Erick Larson at elarson@pss.msstate.edu or by calling 662-418-7802.  Thank you very much for your support.