From 9-Bushel Corn to 195 Bushels: A Nebraska Farm's Transformation

Ray Ward's family farm in Saline County, Nebraska, experienced a dismal corn yield of just 9 bushels per acre in 1955. This was a stark contrast to today's averages, which range between 228 and 237 bushels per acre on irrigated ground.

The farm had been cultivated for decades, with settlers breaking sod as early as the 1870s. By the 1930s, corn yields were improving, but not without issues. The dry and yellowing plants were a common sight, leading farmers to blame drought rather than a lack of nitrogen.

It wasn't until Ward took an agronomy class in college that he learned about nitrogen fertilizer. He realized that the poor crop yields were due to depleted soil nutrient reserves, particularly nitrogen. To combat this, Ward has since implemented no-till farming and precision fertility inputs on his farm, achieving better yields and healthier soils.

Today, the same ground that yielded only 9 bushels per acre in 1955 is producing 195 bushels per acre on dryland. This transformation serves as a reminder of the importance of adopting modern farming practices to maintain healthy and productive soil.