Back in 2009, No-Till Farmer editors produced an article in which Fred Below listed the “7 Corn Growing Wonders of the World.” The University of Illinois crop physiologist determined that combining these critical factors could have as much as a 260-bushel per acre impact on corn yields.

 In simple terms, these yield-boosting factors included the weather, nitrogen, hybrid selection, previous crop, plant population, tillage and plant growth regulators/biologicals.

Weather Rules

Below recently looked at which of these seven critical factors might have had the biggest impact in terms of increasing yields this year with last spring’s excessively wet conditions through much of the Corn Belt. Like many corn growers, the late planting season hit home with Below as many of his research plots didn’t get planted until after June 1. And he’s convinced delayed planting can easily cost a grower 15%-20% of their potential yield.

So what does Below think growers should do to protect yields in a weather-stressed late planting situation?

Below’s suggestion is to narrow row widths to boost the number of corn plants per acre to intercept and capture more yield-boosting sunlight. He believes increasing plant populations is the factor most under your control in dealing with late planting situations.

But if you’re no-tilling corn in 30-inch rows — as 87% of the growers responding to the most recent No-Till Farmer’s most recent benchmark study say they’re doing —it’s difficult to switch to switch to 20-inch rows at the last minute. While more corn plants can be…