Corn yields.
So, just after WWII: about 50 bushels/acre.
Then in the 80's: maybe 100 bushels/acre.
In 2000: 140 acres/acre.
Now this story, sent to me by Don: 12-inch rows, hybrids --> 300+ bushels/acre
Narrow-row corn just got narrower. Stine Seed Company planted and harvested 2,500 acres of 12-in.-row corn in central Iowa last year. A hybrid designed for high density production yielded 320 to 330 bu./acre on the cropland.
“(The fields) were up where we had a little extra rain and a little extra nitrogen on it,” reports Harry Stine, president, Stine Seed. “Most of our other yields were much lower with a farm average of 145 bu./acre (mostly 22½-in. rows).”
The trend to 20- and 15-in.-row corn has been around for years. But interest in even narrower rows such as 12 in. has increased as growers seek the elusive 300 bu./acre yield mark.Absolutely incredible. So, now we have a third "hockey stick" graph to talk about: a) corn yield in the US; b) Bakken crude oil production; and, c) global warming.
Okay, two out of three ain't bad.
According to wiki:
As of 2007, corn became the state's largest crop produced, although only 2% of U.S. production. The Corn Belt extends to North Dakota, but is situated more on the edge of the region instead if in its center. Corn yields are high in the southeast part of the state and smaller in other parts of the state. Most of the cereal grains are grown for livestock feed.
