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Iowa | In the corn belt, especially I-80 and North, you will NEVER lose yield on 15" rows. In tough years, hail, delayed planting, heavy insects,poor stands, etc., 15" will ALWAYS win.
Upshot: nothing to lose and a good possible gain. Bad hail here July 10 one year beat beans back to the ground, but growing point survived. Crop ins adjuster told me 15" or narrower made 40, 30" made 29/30, and 36/38" made 25. He said no matter what the row width, there was only enough growing season left for a little short unbranched plant.
Iowa State has lots of data to prove that in a LESS THAN PERFECT year, there is a BIG advantage. Over time counting all years, 3 to 5 bushels better.
Iowa was WET last year. 15" or narrower planted June 20 made about 40, wide rows low 30's. The few fields planted in early May--there weren't many--all made the same regardless of row width.
15 inch rows are good insurance, and will make you good money over time.
The exception would be areas prone to lots of white mold. Then the 15's never dry out and you get more mold. In Iowa that would be the eastern edge mainly. | |
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15in or 30in beans
