The 2000 corn production season will be remembered as the one that could have been. Early planting set the crop up for good yield potential. Most of the state had good rainfall through silking. Lack of brace roots and increased lodging were observed. Reasons for greater lodging are unknown, but likely due to one or more of the following:

Stalk cannibalism, parasitism, "hungry kernels", and self-destruction
Early drought induced potassium deficiency
Early-season Anthracnose, late-season Diplodia
High winds and hail

In the fall lodged corn was harvested at 1 mph and growers wrestled with time v. yield issues. Yield potential was also lowered by early rust and later drought stress after R3 (but did not show due to growth stage). Early senescence was observed and caused by either early planting or drought. The season ended with good yields at low moisture.

Grain yield at many testing locations was greater than the 10-year average (Table 1). Trial averages ranged from 106 to 212 bu/A for all hybrids tested. Silage yield was also greater than the 10-year average at Fond du Lac and Marshfield (Table 2). Silage yields ranged from 5.5 to 9.1 Tons dry matter/A. Complete results are available at http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu.

Table 1. 2000 Wisconsin Corn Performance Trials - Grain Summary (bu/A).
	1990-1999		2000		Percent
Location	N	Yield	N	Yield	Change
Arlington	1777	191	178	212	+ 11
Janesville	1777	182	178	211	+ 16
Lancaster	1777	175	178	178	+ 2

Fond du Lac	1547	164	171	191	+ 16
Galesville	1547	159	171	171	+ 8
Hancock	1546	181	171	166	- 8

Chippewa Falls	1444	149	153	156	+ 5
Marshfield	1034	149	153	166	+ 11
Seymour	867	146	153	174	+ 19
Valders	1444	151	153	153	+ 1

Ashland	145	132	16	106	- 20
Spooner	1932	127	162	125	- 2
White Lake	645	91	54	111	+ 22
Note: Seymour average includes New London 1990-1992.

Table 2. 2000 Wisconsin Corn Performance Trials - Silage Summary (T/A).
	1990-1999		2000		Percent
Location	N	Yield	N	Yield	Change
		T/A		T/A
Arlington	388	9.3	66	9.1	- 2
Lancaster	311	7.7	66	7.8	+ 1

Fond du Lac	284	8.7	77	7.6	- 13
Galesville	284	8.0	77	8.0	+ 0

Marshfield	401	6.8	55	7.9	+ 16
Valders	328	7.1	55	7.6	+7

Ashland	109	6.7	16	5.5	- 18