Calmer Agronomic Research Farm Releases 2015 Data
July 5, 2016 Calmer Agronomic Research Farm, the largest independently funded, farmer-run agricultural research center in the U.S., announced the results of its 2015 on-farm research exploring management practices to help farmers maximize efficiency and profitability. Key findings demonstrated the effectiveness of narrow row spacing and lower planting population at increasing profitability while reducing issues such as soil erosion and weed control.
“The lessons I’ve learned in my on-farm research have helped me to continuously improve yields and increase profits,” says Marion Calmer, CEO of Calmer Corn Heads, Inc. “My most recent results demonstrate that, on my farm, narrow rows and lower plant populations reduce competition for resources, leading to better yields and more biomass — a win for both the farmer and the environment.”
Calmer’s decades of experience in the fields and at his research facility have helped the farmer-turned-inventor develop innovative, reliable practices and products for his fellow growers. More than simply increasing yields, Calmer aims to provide the resources farmers need to see positive returns on their investment year after year.
“As a farmer myself, I’m always looking at how management decisions will affect my bottom line,” says Calmer. “Our strategies and products are farmer-invented, farmer-tested and farmer-proven, helping growers minimize hassles and maximize profits.”
The latest data from Calmer’s study continues to support the planting of 15-inch rows of corn and soybeans, which out-performed 30-inch rows in terms of yield and profitability. Calmer saw similar economic advantages when lowering planting population to 50,000 seeds, which was most profitable for soybeans in his on-farm research. He found that 28,000 was the most profitable population for corn.
On Calmer’s farm, 15-inch corn rows were $40 more profitable per acre than 30-inch rows at $5 per bushel from 2010 to 2014. Soybeans planted in 15-inch rows were $48 more profitable per acre than beans planted in 30-inch rows from 2009 to 2012 at $12 per bushel.
Through a combination of his on-farm research, custom-built corn heads and class-leading after-market BT Chopper® stalk rolls and residue management upgrade kits, Calmer aims to provide reliable solutions to some of farming’s most complex problems. Credited with building the world’s largest corn heads, Calmer now owns more than a dozen patents that have helped revolutionize the agriculture industry in America.
Calmer Corn Heads and BT Chopper stalk rolls simplify harvest by providing a one-pass residue management system that cuts, chops and shears cornstalks into confetti-like pieces for superior decomposition, promoting faster nutrient recycling and solving a number of other harvest and planting problems caused by excessive residue build-up.
Improved residue management also allows for a fast, clean harvest, providing farmers with valuable peace of mind. By simplifying the process from start to finish, Calmer’s custom-built corn heads and stalk roll upgrade kits save farmers time, money and resources.
“As a farmer myself, my priority is to help farmers maximize profits through research and innovation,” says Calmer. “My hope is that these findings are useful to others and inspire farmers to conduct their own research and consider new ways to continue improving.”
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