General

Although grown throughout the state, corn is the predominant row crop in the Eastern third and southern half of Nebraska. Blessed with the Ogallala aquifer, and large surface irrigation impoundments, approximately 70 % of the corn acreage are irrigated. During the last 15-20 years, the seed corn industry has recognized the advantages of a dependable water supply. Thousands of acres of seed production are annually planted by numerous seed companies in East Central and Central Nebraska irrigated areas. While the rolling hills of Eastern Nebraska produce bountiful corn crops many years, they are largely rain-fed. Occasional cornfields can be found in the range country of the Nebraska Sandhills, but they are few, and largely irrigated. The south-central counties bordering Kansas lie along the southern edge of the Ogallala aquifer, making irrigation from subsurface sources very spotty. Rainfall in the area is also a limiting factor in producing corn. Some years corn planting may begin as early as the first week of April. The bulk of the acreage is planted the last week of April and the first week of May, reaching nearly 100 % by May 20. Most years corn harvest has been completed by early November. The Crop Profile/PMSP database, including this document, is supported by USDA NIFA. In general, corn is planted in rows 30 inches apart, to a population of 25,000 to 30,000 plants per acre