Agricultural Improvements
 Through modern farming methods that include several new technologies, better corn yields per acre are now a fact. Even though corn yield is impacted by water supply, soil nutrients, insects and weeds, the improvements made by developing better hybrids, better breeding technologies, and better farming practices has helped increase the yield.
Since one of the most crucial consideration in using corn as the raw material in ethanol manufacturing is crop stability, seed companies are developing corn that has improved resistance to insect damage and drought tolerance. For instance, recently, Monsanto released information on their efforts to produce drought tolerant corn. This new corn has yielded up to 12 bushels more per acre than a non-drought tolerant hybrid. This feature should not only provide better yield stability in years when there are water shortages, but also improve water usage. Monsanto's first generation drought tolerant corn should be commercially planted in 3-5 years.
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Finally, it is important to understand the impact that better farming techniques have on yield. A 2004 study showed that a significant improvement in crop yields could be achieved by optimizing planter type and planting speed. In some cases, optimization could account for as much as 15 bushels per acre more. This research indicates that there are a number of areas in which improvements can impact yield.
However, this continuous improvement and increased yield can't go on forever, no matter how incredible that would be. There are limits to the amount of corn an acre will produce. The average farmer will find it more and more difficult to make greater gains in corn yield because of irregularities and small imperfections in farm management. Most farms have hit the 70-80 percent yield potential which means that the average farm will produce between 200-230 bushels an acre if the corn yield contest is used as the model.
If this is any indicator, we should see significant increases in yield per acre for some time to come. To add to the yield potential, the major seed companies are continuing to develop better hybrids to use in the future.
Will technology develop a corn that is perfect for ethanol production? Efforts to do so are certainly underway. Both Pioneer and Monsanto have developed hybrids specifically aimed at the ethanol market. Syngenta has announced the demonstration of higher ethanol yields from corn amylase, the first corn expressly developed to help ethanol producers meet the increased demand for this important alternative fuel. More trials are underway and a commercial launch is expected in 2009.
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All in all, it appears that there is significant room for improvement
both in corn yield and in optimization for ethanol production
which is good news for the ethanol industry, good news for the
farmers and good news for the country.
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References:
Lui, W., Tollenaar, M., Stewart, G., Deen, W. (2004). Impact of Planter Type, Planting Speed, and Tillage on Stand Uniformity and Yield of Corn. Agronomy Journal, Volume 96: 1668-1672
Cassman, K.G., (1999). Ecological Intensification of Cereal Production Systems; Yield Potential, Soil Quality, and Precision Agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science Volume 96: 5952-59
Kassman, K.G., Dobermann, A., Walters, D.T., Yang, H., (2003). Meeting Cereal Demand While Protecting Agricultural Resources and Improving Environmental Quality. Annual Review of Environmental Resources Volume 28: 315-358
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