4S4 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



CORN GROWING IN MICHIGAN 



Regular Bulletin No. 289 



J. F. COX AND J. R. DUNCAN, FARM CROPS SECTION 



Corn growing is one of Michigan's greatest industries. During the 

 year, 1919, Michigan's corn crop was worth between $80,000,000 and 

 $90,000,000, its value being greater than that of any other crop produced 

 in Michigan. Michigan's corn growing counties are marked by thrifty 

 herds of cattle and numerous flocks of hogs and sheep. The silo has extend- 

 ed her corn growing sections far to the north. The great stock-feeding and 

 dairying interests, and the large food products industries of Michigan 

 are largely supported by the corn crop. The production of corn compares 

 favorably with Michigan's leading industries. The value of the corn 

 crop approximately equals the total annual output of Michigan's copper 

 mines, or iron mines, and exceeds the value of her furniture industry 

 in normal years. 



"The big business" of corn growing differs from other large industries 

 such as automobile production, copper and iron mining, etc., in that its 

 direction is not in the hands of a relatively few captains of industry, 

 with specialists assigned to particular details of production, but it is 

 owned and managed by several hundred thousand independent corn 

 producers, each of whom must know the details of his business. The 

 degree of success of the individual is largely in proportion to his knowl- 

 edge of corn growing. Those who employ improved methods in select- 

 ing and storing seed corn, preparing the land, fertilizing and cultivating 

 the crop, etc., are assured of a marked advantage over the corn grower 

 who does not follow these methods. The prosperity of the State, and of 

 individual farmers growing corn, is influenced in a large measure by the 

 success of the corn crop, and it is to the interest of both the State and 

 corn growers to secure the wide spread use of the methods which the 

 most successful producers have found best. 



For the past 15 years, Michigan's average production has been 

 53,000,000 bushels with an average yield per acre of 32.3 bushels. This 

 average yield compares very favorably with the yield per acre of lead- 

 ing corn belt States, but double this yield or more can be expected on 

 average corn land as a result of the employment of proper cultural 

 methods. There is substantial reason to believe that greater care on the 

 part of the majority of corn growers in choosing adapted varieties, se- 

 lecting seed, preparing the land, and cultivating the crop, will bring 

 about a very considerable increase in the total production and in the 

 average yield per acre. 



