A Season in the Life: The Preceon™ Smart Corn System

Across the fields, word spreads about a system designed to meet the challenges of modern farming. The corn grows to a peculiar height—less than seven feet. Though short in stature, its sturdy stalks and strong root system help protect against the Midwest’s unpredictable weather. 

A local farmer weighs the options, thinking through what the Preceon Smart Corn System could offer his operation if combined with a digital farming approach. Although there’s risk in change, there’s also opportunity. By utilizing precision farming technology, the farmer can support yield goals and gather more info for day-to-day decision making. The system sparks the farmer’s curiosity and a quiet optimism sets in. This season could mark the beginning of something better.

The farmer keeps a close eye on the short stature corn products growing in a nearby test plot. Unlike typical hybrids, it maintains its standability, seemingly unfazed by the weather. He even notices that despite an increased planting population, lodging is not an issue. There’s no question this corn was bred with intention. As he studies the more compact canopy, new opportunities begin to reveal themselves. Despite his uncertainty, he considers the benefits. He recognizes what this innovation could offer: an increased window for late-season nitrogen applications, a higher population density and a readiness to face whatever Mother Nature can deliver to this field.

The next year, the farmer returns with his Bayer agronomist. With the help of crop planning with FieldView™, the two devise a plan to better understand the corn’s potential and decide to plant. Knowingly taking a risk with the unfamiliar seed, the team sets out to explore its abilities.

As the days pass, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary corn product. Its reduced size offers an unforeseen advantage: an increased population density that still allows an extended window for fertilizers. Seeking deeper insights into its performance and thinking about how to best utilize his ground sprayer throughout the entire growing season, the farmer and the agronomist continue to rely on FieldView and its array of tools.

Using FieldView farm management software, they begin to focus on how to best use their farm inputs. They start by crafting a variable rate fertility prescription. Using the same standard ground equipment, they consider refining and expanding their management practices—not just applying their own fertilizer, but making applications based on environmental conditions rather than predetermined tassel timing—while mapping out zones and prepping the field to plant more of the new crop. 

The season progresses and the corn continues to grow—strong and steady. One day, while reviewing FieldView’s field health imagery after some heavy rain, the agronomist notices unexpected variability in the field. He does some field scouting in the affected area with a drone, identifies signs of nitrogen deficiency and drops a scouting pin on FieldView to share with the farmer. The farmer and agronomist draw management zones and create a variable rate nitrogen prescription—directly within FieldView—to effectively resolve the issue. With every step, the farmer's confidence in the system grows.

As fall approaches and cooler temperatures settle in, it’s time for harvest. The agronomist pulls up a harvest summary report and sends it to the farmer. Satisfied with his yield—from the additional management practices and use of late-season nitrogen applications—the farmer analyzes his results using the yield monitoring software on FieldView. Knowing there’s always room for improvement, the team begins planning for next season using the information from their yield mapping. This time, they set a higher goal: to expand their use of the Preceon Smart Corn System across more acres. 

By uniting all three parts of a connected solution—short stature corn, agronomic support and FieldView—the farmer can make faster, more informed decisions that can help increase yield potential.