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Field Corn (Dent)

Field Corn (Dent)

Zea mays subsp. mays

grainannual

Annual warm-season grain crop grown for grain, silage, ethanol, and feed. Field (dent) corn is the dominant row crop in temperate agricultural regions worldwide. Adapted broadly across Zones 3-9 given sufficient growing-season heat units; modern hybrids span maturity ratings (~80-120 day relative maturity) so growers match hybrid GDD requirements to local frost-free season. Best on deep, well-drained loam soils with pH 5.8-7.0 and 20-30 inches of in-season moisture.

17/30

Crop Snowflake Score

Gross Revenue
$797

/acre

Net Return
$97

/acre

Price Trend
declining
Establishment Cost
$0

/acre

Crop Insurance
Available
Years to Production
1

years

Overview

Field (dent) corn (Zea mays subsp. mays) is an annual C4 grass with a 90-130 day production window depending on hybrid maturity. Planted in spring once soils stabilize at 50°F (10°C) and the frost risk is past, with seeding rates typically 30,000-36,000 plants/acre on 30-inch rows (narrower on irrigated/high-management ground). Nitrogen is the dominant input (commonly 0.9-1.1 lb N per bushel of yield goal), supplied as anhydrous ammonia, urea, UAN, or manure; phosphorus and potassium are matched to soil tests. Critical moisture-sensitive periods are silking and grain fill (R1-R5), when water stress causes the largest yield loss. Harvest occurs once kernel moisture drops to 22-25% (combine harvest) or 14-15% (no-dry storage); silage harvest targets 60-70% whole-plant moisture. Major pests include corn rootworm, European corn borer, western bean cutworm, fall armyworm, and tar spot/gray leaf spot/northern corn leaf blight diseases; many are managed with traited (Bt/RR) hybrids and rotation. Yields scale with management and soil productivity; well-managed temperate fields commonly average 170-220 bu/ac, with rainfed marginal sites in the 100-140 bu/ac range. Crop rotates well with soybean and small grains; continuous corn carries higher disease and rootworm pressure.

Growing Season

Plant
Late spring after soil reaches 50°F – Early summer
Harvest
Late summer to early fall (silage); fall (grain at 22-25% moisture) – Late fall
Frost-free days
110+
GDD (base 50°F)
1,800 – 2,700

Yield

Typical yield
180 bu/acre (shelled, 15.5% moisture)
Productive lifespan
1 years
Years to full prod.
1
Labor
2.6 hrs/acre
96%

Market Fit

1/6

Active Regional Buyers

1 active buyer on record purchasing this crop.

Price Trend Stable/Up

3-year price trend recorded as "declining".

Supply Below Demand

Priced on national grain markets where supply is well established, leaving little regional headroom regardless of local channel strength (1 of 4 channels rate "strong").

Multiple Buyer Channels

1 of 4 documented market channels rate viable or better (wholesale). Thin — dependent on few outlets.

Value-Added Potential

0 viable direct-market channels. Limited direct-market routes; value chiefly captured at wholesale.

Market Growth Projected

Mature grain market; growth over a 5-year horizon is expected to track population rather than outpace it.

Market Channels

wholesale · Commodity grain marketed through elevators/cooperatives via cash or forward contracts. National end-use is roughly feed & residual ~38%, ethanol ~36%, exports ~15%, with the remainder food/seed/industrial.
retail · Enters retail only after processing (feed products, cornmeal, industrial goods); little direct retail of raw dent grain.
direct_to_consumer · Minor: on-farm livestock feed sales or niche wildlife-plot/specialty grain. Not a fresh-eating crop.
farmers_market · Not a farmers-market crop except niche ornamental/decorative use or stone-ground cornmeal from open-pollinated varieties.

Climate Fit

6/6

Hardiness Zone Match

Crop tolerates zones 3-9; region spans 5-6. Overlaps.

GDD Sufficient

Crop needs 2200 GDD (base 50F); region accumulates 2500+. Sufficient.

Precipitation Compatible

Crop needs ~22 in; region receives ~38 in/yr. Compatible, irrigation available as supplement.

Frost-Free Season OK

Crop needs 110 frost-free days; region provides ~180. Sufficient.

Chill Hours Met

Not applicable — annual crop has no winter chill requirement.

Climate Trend Favorable

Crop spans 7 hardiness zones (3-9). Wide adaptive range buffers against warming trend.

Fit by region

The farm matcher, run on each region's cited climate normals. Soil and site are not included here; add your own on the match page.

Match your farm
Finger Lakeszone 5b/6a · 2,200 GDD · 145 frost-free days · 38.29" rain

Limited by high-severity risks. 5 criteria evaluated; 60% cited.

Strong fit
89/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers
Lake Erie Concord Grape Beltzone 6a/6b/7a · 2,923 GDD · 185 frost-free days · 41.09" rain

Limited by high-severity risks. 5 criteria evaluated; 60% cited.

Strong fit
89/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers
Chautauqua Uplands (Allegheny Plateau)zone 6a · 2,364 GDD · 158 frost-free days · 45.93" rain

Limited by high-severity risks. 5 criteria evaluated; 60% cited.

Strong fit
89/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers

Climate envelope & site

What the farm matcher compares your conditions against.

Climate envelope

Hardiness zone
n/a
Frost-free season
110+ days
Heat (GDD base 50°F)
1,800+
Winter chill
n/a
Rainfall
23.6–70.9 in/yr

Below the minimum, irrigation is needed; above the maximum the crop fails.

Soil pH target
5.8–7.0

Extension lime target; within 1.0 of it is correctable.

Site & structure

Spring frost at bloom
n/a
Needs cold-air drainage
n/a
Shade tolerance
none — full sun
Mature height
not yet recorded
Rooting depth
not yet recorded
Wind exposure tolerance
not yet recorded
Workable slope
not yet recorded

Height, rooting depth and shade tolerance are the inputs an alley or guild layout needs.

Soil Compatibility

Soil Texture

sand (poor)loamy_sand (marginal)sandy_loam (suitable)loam (ideal)silt_loam (ideal)sandy_clay_loam (marginal)clay_loam (suitable)silty_clay_loam (suitable)silty_clay (marginal)clay (poor)

Drainage

very_poorly_drained (poor)poorly_drained (poor)somewhat_poorly_drained (marginal)moderately_well_drained (suitable)well_drained (ideal)somewhat_excessively_drained (marginal)excessively_drained (poor)

Infrastructure Fit

3/6

Equipment Compatible

6 of 14 documented equipment items are crop-specific (43%) against a catalog median of 29%. Above-median share of purpose-built equipment, implying real capital outlay.

Storage Available

2 documented storage routes; all require purpose-built capital (Long-term dry grain storage (aerated bin); Short-term aerated holding (higher-moisture)).

Irrigation Compatible

Requires ~22 in. Deliverable with conventional drip or overhead irrigation.

Field Layout Suitable

Grain crops need large contiguous acreage to be economic; the region's parcels are typically small and fragmented by topography.

Labor Availability

Labor requirement not recorded. Catalog 75th percentile is 250 hr/ac.

Processing Proximity

1 processor/cooperative buyer on record for this crop, 1 within NY/PA/OH.

Equipment Requirements

planting

Row-Crop Tractor (150-250 HP)Required

Primary tractor for planting, tillage, and harvest support. Sized to pull 12-16 row planters and primary tillage on commercial corn acres. Used or older models substantially reduce capital.

$175,000
Row-Crop Planter (12-row, 30-inch)Required Specialized

Modern central-fill planter with vacuum metering, hydraulic down pressure, and seed/fertilizer split-row capability. Critical for stand uniformity that drives 5-10 bu/acre. Used 8-12 row units common at smaller scales.

$95,000
Field Cultivator or Vertical Tillage ToolRequired

Secondary tillage for seedbed prep — vertical till units (Salford, Great Plains Turbo-Till) increasingly preferred over field cultivators for residue management. Sized to tractor.

$35,000
No-Till Coulter Cart / Strip-Till BarOptional Specialized

For strip-till or no-till systems — places fertilizer and conditions a 6-8 inch strip in fall or spring. Reduces tillage cost and erosion; requires precision GPS guidance.

$45,000

irrigation

Center-Pivot Irrigation System (per quarter section)Optional Specialized

Irrigation transforms corn yields in droughty soils or arid regions. Per-acre cost varies $700-1200/acre installed. Variable-rate end guns and corner systems add $20-40k. Not used in humid rainfed regions.

$90,000

spraying

Self-Propelled Sprayer (1000+ gal, 90 ft boom)Optional Specialized

Owned by larger operations or contracted from custom applicators. Used for herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide applications. Most growers under 1000 acres custom-hire spraying instead.

$250,000
Pull-Type Sprayer (300-500 gal, 60 ft boom)Required

Pull-type sprayer for growers below custom-application scale. Adequate for pre-emerge herbicide and rescue post-emerge passes. Often the practical choice on diversified farms under 500 acres.

$28,000

cultivation

Disk HarrowOptional

Optional primary tillage tool — used less than historically as no-till and vertical-till systems expand. Still standard in heavy-residue rotations and for incorporating manure.

$22,000

harvesting

Combine Harvester with Corn HeaderRequired Specialized

Combine plus 8-12 row corn head. New Class 8-9 combines run $400-600k; used 5-10 year-old units in $200-350k range. Custom harvest is a workable alternative below 500 acres.

$350,000
Grain Cart (700-1000 bu)Required

Tractor-pulled cart that shuttles grain from combine to road truck without stopping the combine. Critical for keeping the combine running during harvest weather windows.

$45,000

post_harvest

On-Farm Grain Storage and Drying (per 10,000 bu)Required Specialized

Steel grain bin with high-capacity centrifugal aeration fan and dryer. Drying capacity sized to 1.5-2x daily harvest volume. On-farm storage captures basis carry of $0.20-0.40/bu post-harvest.

$60,000
Truck or Tractor-Trailer for Grain HaulingRequired

Single-axle straight truck (350-500 bu) for shorter hauls; semi-trailer (1000 bu) for elevator delivery and ethanol plant runs. Custom hauling is widely available as an alternative.

$80,000

general

GPS / Auto-Steer Guidance SystemRequired

Dual-frequency RTK or PPP GPS receiver and auto-steer for tractor and combine. Reduces overlap and operator fatigue. Sub-inch RTK preferred for strip-till and narrow-row planting.

$25,000
Yield Monitor and Data Management SubscriptionOptional

Combine yield monitor plus farm management data platform (Climate FieldView, Granular, John Deere Operations Center). Drives precision N and seeding rate decisions on subsequent years.

$5,000

Storage Requirements

Long-term dry grain storage (aerated bin)

Temperature

30–40°F

Max Storage

365 days

Short-term aerated holding (higher-moisture)

Temperature

30–60°F

Max Storage

60 days

Financial Return

3/6

Revenue Above Average

Gross revenue $824/ac vs catalog median $6,000/ac. Below median.

Input Costs Acceptable

Total input cost $700/ac vs catalog 75th percentile $6,300/ac. Within typical range.

Payback Period OK

Reaches full production in 1 year. Acceptable payback.

Insurance Available

Federal crop insurance or an equivalent risk product is available.

Revenue Per Labor Hour

Cannot compute — labor hours not recorded. Catalog median is $13.16/hr.

Grants/Subsidies

No specialty-crop or cover-crop incentive program identified for this grain crop.

Economics Breakdown

Avg Price/Unit$4/$/bu
Gross Revenue/Acre$797
Annual Operating Cost$700/acre
Establishment Cost$0/acre
Total Input Cost$700/acre
Net Return/Acre$97
Revenue/Labor Hour—
Crop Insurance Available
SubsidiesARC-CO, PLC

Source: USDA NASS Crop Values 2025 Summary (Feb 2026 release): OH=$4.25, PA=$4.60 -> avg $4.43/bu (state-avg, Lake Erie basin). Cost structure from regional extension corn enterprise budgets (typical operating cost ~$700/ac for 180 bu/ac yield). (2025)

Risk Profile

4/6

Manageable Pest/Disease

6 of 11 documented risks are high-severity (55%) against a catalog median of 36%. Above-median concentration of high-severity risk, demanding intensive management.

Market Diversified

1 viable market channel of 4 documented, plus 1 named buyer. Concentrated — losing one outlet would strand the crop.

Low Establishment Risk

1 year to full production at $0/ac establishment cost. Low establishment exposure.

Climate Resilient

Tolerates zones 3-9 (7 zones). Broad tolerance indicates resilience to seasonal variability.

Regulatory Burden Low

No crop-specific licensing or reporting regime beyond standard food-safety and pesticide rules.

Diversifies Portfolio

Adds a grain revenue stream distinct from the region's grape-dominated base.

Known Risks

disease

Tar Spot (Phyllachora maydis)high

Foliar fungal disease producing raised black "tar spot" stromata on leaves. Severe infections during grain fill can cut yields 30-50 bu/acre. Has spread rapidly through the eastern Corn Belt and Midwest since first US detection in 2015 and is now considered a routine production threat in humid corn-growing regions.

Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)high

Residue-borne fungal leaf disease, most damaging in continuous corn under reduced tillage. Lesions reduce photosynthetic area during grain fill; severe infections cause premature plant death and stalk rot.

Northern Corn Leaf Blight (Setosphaeria turcica)moderate

Fungal foliar disease producing long cigar-shaped lesions. Most severe under cool, humid conditions and on susceptible hybrids during silking. Can reduce yield 30% in epidemic years.

Stalk Rot Complex (Fusarium, Gibberella, Anthracnose, Diplodia)high

Complex of late-season fungal pathogens that compromise stalk integrity, causing lodging at or after physiological maturity. Lodged corn dramatically increases harvest losses and combine time.

pest

Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera)high

Larvae feed on corn roots causing lodging and yield loss; adults clip silks and reduce pollination. Bt-resistant populations and rotation-resistant variants document widely in continuous-corn regions, eroding traditional control tools.

European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)moderate

Larvae bore into stalks and ears, weakening plants and creating entry points for stalk rot pathogens. Bt corn has dramatically reduced populations across most growing regions but pressure persists in non-Bt and refuge acres.

Corn Earworm / Fall Armyworm Complexmoderate

Lepidopteran pests that feed on whorl, tassel, and developing ears. Yield damage is generally modest in field corn but can be significant in late-planted fields and during armyworm migration years.

weather

Pollination Heat and Drought Stresshigh

Days exceeding 95°F with low humidity during the 1-2 week silking window damage pollen viability and silk emergence, causing kernel abortion and reduced ear fill. Single largest weather-related yield risk in most regions.

Wet Spring Planting Delaysmoderate

Planting delays beyond optimal window reduce yield potential roughly 1-2 bu/acre per day. Saturated soils also drive denitrification and replant decisions on early seedings damaged by ponding.

market

Commodity Price Volatilityhigh

Corn cash and futures prices swing widely on weather, ethanol policy, export demand, and acreage shifts. Margins compress quickly in bumper-crop years given high input costs.

regulatory

Atrazine and Neonicotinoid Use Restrictionsmoderate

EPA and state-level reviews have tightened atrazine label rates and added watershed-specific restrictions; neonicotinoid seed treatment use is under review. Loss of either could materially raise weed and early-season insect control costs.

Nutritional Yield

USDA FoodData Central
Profile based on Corn grain, yellow (whole_grain form)
Edible mass per acre4,572 kg
Computed: 180 bu/acre (shelled, 15.5% moisture) × 25.40 kg/unit × 100% edible

Macronutrients

NutrientPer 100 gPer acre
Calories365 kcal16,688,588 kcal
Protein9.4 g430,703 g
Total fat4.7 g216,723 g
Carbohydrates74.3 g3,395,328 g
Fiber7.3 g333,772 g
Sugar0.6 g29,262 g

Key micronutrients

Iron
2.7 mg /100g
123,907 mg / acre
Calcium
7 mg /100g
320,055 mg / acre
Potassium
287 mg /100g
13,122,260 mg / acre
Vitamin C
0 mg /100g
0 mg / acre
Vitamin A
214 IU /100g
9,784,542 IU / acre
Folate
19 mcg /100g
868,721 mcg / acre

Uncertainty: Per-acre values are estimates that compound the yield range, edible-fraction assumption, and a single representative nutrient panel. Treat them as order-of-magnitude planning numbers, not nutritional advice. Confidence: high.

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem service data pending.

The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Cultivars

Named varieties and what the sources say sets each apart. A cultivar-specific zone, chill or maturity figure overrides the species value above.

No cultivars recorded yet for this crop.

Grows With / Avoid Near

Documented interactions with other catalog crops — shared pests, allelopathy, rotation effects, alley and understory pairings — for companion, guild and rotation planning. Plan a combination with Field Corn (Dent) →

Avoid near, or plan around (52)

Grows with (18)

Tolerates (2)

Direction matters: a rotation benefit of A before B says nothing about B before A. Interactions are documented pairs only; absence is a research gap, not a clean bill.

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:
No registered buyers for this crop within 50 miles.

Data Sources

Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.

Primary sources: USDA PLANTS (ZEMA), USDA NASS QuickStats (yield averages 2020-2025), Iowa State University Extension Corn Production resources, Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide, Purdue Corn & Soybean Field Guide. Image to be sourced and verified by the image-audit task.

Economics data year: 2025 · Basis: lake erie View economics source →

43 tracked changes across 8 data categories

Price History

Market Channels

Jul 2, 20264 entries
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  • NY / PA
  • United States
  • Zone 6a

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Experimental research database. AI-assisted, may contain errors. Not formal agricultural, financial, or planting advice. Verify with your local extension service before making decisions.

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