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How Can I Estimate Corn Yield Potential?

Jul 12, 2011

Question: I have seen some information you had that shows how to estimate corn yield potential. Can you provide that again? 

Answer: Here’s the basic formula, and I’m also including a chart that shows how to estimate corn yield potential under various row spacings.
If you’re in 30-inch rows, use a tape measure to mark off 17 feet 5 inches in a row of corn.
average ears x average rows around x average kernels long = Yield
I’ve inserted some actual ear, row and kernel numbers in the formula here to give you an example:
32 x 16 x 35 = 199 bu/acre
I would encourage you to implement this practice in four or five different locations within each field, and then average the numbers, to arrive at a fairly accurate result.
Keep in mind the formula does not take into consideration kernel depths. Based on weather conditions during kernel fill you may increase or decrease your yield by 5 to 10 percent.
As you evaluate plant stand numbers and ear counts, consider that you can benefit from getting those two numbers to more closely align with each other.
While the number difference between plant stands and ear counts cannot be eliminated, it can be minimized. In a corn-soybean rotation, the difference between the two would ideally be no more than 1,200. In corn-on-corn, with heavy residue conditions, the ideal difference between the two would be 2,000 or less.

Table 1. Length of row to equal 1/1000th of
an acre for various row widths
Row spacing
Row Length
13 feet 1 inch
13 feet 6 inches
17 feet 5 inches
23 feet 9 inches
34 feet 10 inches

*Information provided courtesy of University of Minnesota Extension Service.
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