Normally when Dave Nanda walks through a cornfield in early to mid-September, he is anxious to shuck an ear, pull back the husks and split the ear in half. Then he plucks out a kernel, pulls out his pocketknife and, looking like a surgeon, gently pecks at the tip.

“I’m trying to determine if the black layer has formed,” Nanda says. “That’s a big deal for a corn plant, because if I find the black layer, it means the kernel is physiologically mature. It’s safe from frost. The plant has done its job and produced viable kernels. It doesn’t know that these kernels produced by hybrid corn won’t be planted.”

Corn farmers who "split apply" nitrogen will soon have another option for insurance coverage. Beginning in crop year 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) will offer the Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) in certain states for non-irrigated corn, providing coverage for producers who use this practice that is considered better for natural resources and saves money for producers.

To "split-apply" nitrogen, growers make multiple fertilizer applications during the growing season rather than providing all of the crop's nitrogen requirements with a single treatment before or during planting. The PACE will provide payments for the projected yield lost when producers are unable to apply the in-season nitrogen application.

"USDA is committed to building insurance options that encourage use of practices that are better for the environment and for producers' bottom lines," said RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. "We are able to offer the PACE thanks to the cooperation of our partners, including the Illinois Corn Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, Ag-Analytics Technology Company and Meridian Institute."

"Split application" of nitrogen can lead to lower input costs as well as helps prevent runoff or leaching of nutrients into waterways and groundwater. This is because it is used in more targeted amounts over multiple applications, rather than one large application.

This new crop insurance option builds upon RMA's efforts to encourage use of conservation practices, including cover crops. For example, RMA recently provided premium support for producers who planted cover crops to help offset impacts from the pandemic. Meanwhile, RMA recently updated policy to allow producers with crop insurance to hay, graze or chop cover crops at any time and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. This policy change supports use of cover crops, which can help producers build resilience to drought.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board approved the PACE recently, and RMA will share additional details later this year. The sales closing date for the endorsement will be the same as the producer's underlying corn policy.

More Information
RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to support crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.

We could have a record corn crop in 2021! At least it looks that way in the eastern Corn Belt. Corn plants in many fields added a couple of extra rows per ear and even added a second ear. Plants were busy making as many progenies as possible.

Timely rains during the same period made certain that kernel depth and test weight improvement further added to already high potential yields. However, conditions that were favorable for crop growth also were conducive to development of fungal leaf diseases such as northern corn leaf blight and gray leaf spot.

The discovery of a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn is a new tool that could enable the breeding of deeper-rooting crops with enhanced ability to take up nitrogen.

An international team of researchers led by Penn State identified the gene, ZmCIPK15 — a moniker indicating where it is in the genome and how it functions. The gene was found to be missing in a naturally occurring mutant corn line that grew roots at steeper angles, making them go deeper into the soil.

While some early corn is starting to be harvested in the state, some of the crop is still at the R5 growth stage (dent). After looking at several fields and speaking with consultants and extension agents, corn maturation has been slower than usual this year due to moderate temperatures, high humidity, and high rainfall amounts.

China is likely to take a break from buying large amounts of U.S. corn after record purchases this year because the domestic harvest is approaching and local prices have slumped to the cheapest since late 2020.

The world’s largest importer has already bought more than 10.5 million tons of U.S. corn for the 2021-22 marketing year, and over 23 million tons for the current season, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show. Total imports next year will likely be 20 million tons, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, while the USDA’s official forecast for this year is 26 million tons.