Corn and soybean planting order decisions impact farm gross revenue

Abstract

The inter-annual corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation field is a well-known management practice that increases the yield of both crops across the midwestern United States. Each spring, farmers must decide which crop will be planted first. Prioritizing the planting of one crop can delay planting of the other, which can result in substantial yield loss and reduced associated revenue. The objective of this work was to assess how gross farm revenue (corn + soybean acres) can be affected by crop planting order (corn first, soybean second, and vice versa). The impact of variable planting dates on the yield of each crop was simulated for 310 fields across the United States. Gross farm revenue was estimated as a function of crop planting date, order, input costs and crop prices. In a randomly chosen field in south central Wisconsin, 1 out of the 310, delaying planting after May 1 reduced yield of each crop and subsequently suppressed gross farm revenue. Crop planting order determined farm revenue due to a variable loss in per day yield rate within the nominal planting timeframe associated with the two crops. In addition, the degree to which management intensified for each crop relative to crop yield potential accruing with earlier planting varied by state and further impacted farm revenue. Overall results suggest that to determine planting order, US farmers need to be aware of the comparative yield trends associated with delayed planting of corn vs. soybean for their specific farms and cropping systems and should also account for projected crop selling prices.