The 2023 season was a pleasant surprise for many farmers around the Midwest.
Drought persevered through much of the Corn Belt, particularly in the west, but many farmers' left fields with smiles on their faces.
"Another year like this next year and I wouldn't complain," said central Iowa farmer Dave Struthers, who finished the year with yields that he wasn't expecting. "That said, I'd like to see some moisture get back in the ground before we get moving next year."
Multiple farmers told Iowa Farmer Today they credit improved hybrids for strong growth in corn and soybeans.
"If you would have told me I'd get what we did I'd have been real happy in August," said northeast Iowa CropWatcher Rick Juchems. "We'll keep doing what we are doing and find hybrids that will stand up to a drought."
Iowa State University cropping systems specialist Mark Licht said hybrids are playing a role in the success of the Midwestern crop, more so than management practices. That doesn't discount the impact those practices have, but rather there hasn't been enough of a shift to see just how those practices help in particularly stressful years.
"In a large sense, our management hasn't changed that drastically to see huge differences like that or huge resiliency," Licht said. "In some cases if you've switch to no-till and adopted cover crops, yes, that's going to give a little more resiliency, but when you think about those numbers there hasn't been a large enough shift in those acres to pick up the kind of corn yields we are hearing."
Licht said seed companies are improving genetics and honing in on where a particular variety is going to be most effective. He also said the dry conditions, given the right tolerance, may actually help some fields as root systems will work harder and go deeper in the soil to find moisture.
Varieties that are looking to fight off corn rootworm are particularly effective and are showing an ability to make strong, robust root networks. Larry Cihacek, professor of natural resource sciences at North Dakota State University, said a dry planting season in 2023 particularly helped those networks get off to a great start ahead of a few rains in May and June.
"With the robust root system, they are able to cover more soil area and tap into more available soil moisture," Cihacek said.
He also said a strong crop rotation may help with moisture retention. Soybeans use less moisture and can help a field if the rains fall as expected.
While there was enough moisture to help many farmers get through this season, the well is low for many ahead of 2024. While fall and winter precipitation would be welcome, there is a lot of pressure on the spring season to begin getting soils replenished.
Even with the uncertainty, the best course of action may be sticking with the plan.
"If you think about how much rainfall we can get in a normal April or May time period, that can be enough to give us that full soil moisture recharge," Licht said. "It's really going to be dependent on the spring."
