The Future is Short Corn
Apr 01, 2025
Mike Tufte
Seed Specialist
You’ve probably heard us talking about Preceon® in a meeting. Maybe you’ve seen the name on a billboard or a sweatshirt. The name Preceon, itself, probably doesn’t ring much of a bell for you…yet. Preceon is a “Smart Corn System” commonly referred to as Short Corn. After the original Derecho of 2020, some companies decided to try their hand at shortening corn to make it less susceptible to snapping in high wind scenarios. Little did they know Bayer already had short corn in the works. We didn’t know about it at the time, but just a couple short years later, they slowly started introducing it to the commercial ag sector.
If you recall my article on hybrid traits a few months back, you remember that traditional hybrid corn came to market in the 1920s. The next big step was RR corn in 1998. No other trait has made as big of an impact as the RR corn did. Preceon has the potential to be the next big movement in the corn industry. To help you understand what it is and why we should be thinking about it, I’ve teamed up with Dustin Thomas from Bayer to help educate us all on what the Preceon Smart Corn System truly is. Dustin is the Dekalb/Asgrow/Alloy Field Sales Rep for our southeast region and a great asset to our team.
But it’s not just a new corn technology: it’s a full production system. To enable farmers to get the best from Short Stature Corn, we complement it with a suite of digital solutions, data-driven decision-making, modern and efficient management practices, crop protection innovations, and a partnership approach. A transformative new way of growing corn – one designed to meet the needs of farmers, first and foremost.
How does it achieve that? The Preceon Smart Corn System unleashes the potential of agricultural and digital innovations at every stage of the season, tailored to the farmer’s needs. Ultimately, it can enable higher yields from the same acres, increasing production without increasing impacts. It’s exactly what we need to bring about a productive and sustainable future for corn.
It includes:
During growth, the difference between Short Stature Corn and traditional tall corn will start to emerge during the elongation phase (around V6-V7) and be fully apparent at tasseling. The stalks are consistently girthy. They appear to be roughly one third times thicker than traditional commercial stalks. The plant structure above the cob is relatively similar to traditional corn. The internodes below the cob are condensed. Total plant height typically comes in around seven feet, although there are hybrids closer to six feet. Traditional tall corn hybrids range from 9-12 feet tall.
The leaf structure typically stands more upright. They are wider and form a dense canopy. At higher populations, they give off a jungle look. More leaf area promotes more photosynthesis. This keeps the factory flowing and the yield potential climbing.
Roots tend to be a penetrating style. The larger root mass helps the corn plant utilize water and nutrients more efficiently, which is extremely beneficial in years of limited moisture.
Although not quite on the market, breeders are working with a Biotech trait to insert in any corn hybrid. This would give us the ability to turn a conventional tall hybrid into a short corn with the added benefits of the Smart Corn System. Being able to utilize this technology rather than just the native traits will open a whole new realm of possibilities.
Click to view.
Click to view.
Overall, the Preceon Smart Corn System is designed to be a more profitable, more reliable, and more sustainable way of growing corn, compared to conventional methods. We will have numerous Preceon plots across our territory this growing season and will be looking for more Preceon acres next year. Give your local Key Cooperative agronomist a call to see/touch/feel the future for yourself!
Seed Specialist
Preceon Smart Corn System
You’ve probably heard us talking about Preceon® in a meeting. Maybe you’ve seen the name on a billboard or a sweatshirt. The name Preceon, itself, probably doesn’t ring much of a bell for you…yet. Preceon is a “Smart Corn System” commonly referred to as Short Corn. After the original Derecho of 2020, some companies decided to try their hand at shortening corn to make it less susceptible to snapping in high wind scenarios. Little did they know Bayer already had short corn in the works. We didn’t know about it at the time, but just a couple short years later, they slowly started introducing it to the commercial ag sector.
If you recall my article on hybrid traits a few months back, you remember that traditional hybrid corn came to market in the 1920s. The next big step was RR corn in 1998. No other trait has made as big of an impact as the RR corn did. Preceon has the potential to be the next big movement in the corn industry. To help you understand what it is and why we should be thinking about it, I’ve teamed up with Dustin Thomas from Bayer to help educate us all on what the Preceon Smart Corn System truly is. Dustin is the Dekalb/Asgrow/Alloy Field Sales Rep for our southeast region and a great asset to our team.
What is the Preceon® Smart Corn System?
Preceon is the global name for a new Smart Corn System developed and launched by Bayer. It is centered on the game-changing benefits of Short Stature Corn, which grows around a third shorter than the “traditional tall corn” farmers are used to. This increases resistance to lodging, making management easier and more flexible, and potentially enabling higher density and yield.But it’s not just a new corn technology: it’s a full production system. To enable farmers to get the best from Short Stature Corn, we complement it with a suite of digital solutions, data-driven decision-making, modern and efficient management practices, crop protection innovations, and a partnership approach. A transformative new way of growing corn – one designed to meet the needs of farmers, first and foremost.
How does it achieve that? The Preceon Smart Corn System unleashes the potential of agricultural and digital innovations at every stage of the season, tailored to the farmer’s needs. Ultimately, it can enable higher yields from the same acres, increasing production without increasing impacts. It’s exactly what we need to bring about a productive and sustainable future for corn.
What are the elements of the system?
The Preceon Smart Corn System incorporates multiple solutions, all with the same goal: to achieve consistent yield gains compared to traditional tall corn growing systems, without needing to increase inputs. This system PAYs!It includes:
- Protection from crop yield loss due to increased lodging and greensnap tolerance in high winds and challenging weather conditions.
- Access all season long for more timely, precise application of crop protection and other inputs with standard harvest equipment.
- Yield potential through increased opportunity to optimize crop inputs, planting densities and field placement.
Potential benefits for farmers, include:
- Yield gain potential: Short Stature Corn hybrids are suitable for planting at higher densities, which the Preceon Smart Corn System aims to optimize with field-specific, digitally-enabled seeding recommendations. This can deliver a consistent yield gain without needing to increase water, fertilizer or crop protection inputs.
- Greater flexibility: Thanks to this corn’s shorter size and slower elongation phase, farmers can enter their corn fields later, and delay crop treatments if needed, enabling them to maximize the efficacy of crop protection and fertilizer applications.
- Protection from losses to climatic factors: With its thicker stalk, shorter size and deeper root system, Short Stature Corn is up to 10 times more resistant to lodging and greensnap, even under strong wind conditions.
- Silage benefits: Short Stature Corn’s density is a major advantage for silage growers, because of the incremental increase in dry matter yield. The plant also has incrementally increased content of starch and digestibility.
- Wider harvest window: The new hybrid has a longer stay-green period and can be harvested 10-15 days later than traditional tall corn. This gives silage growers more flexibility for harvest operations and enables higher silage quality thanks to the longer accumulation of starch combined with higher digestibility.
What is the science behind it?
Short Stature Corn was created through an innovative breeding approach, using a native trait. It has decreased internode length and is around one third shorter overall. It also has a deeper rooting profile, improved stalk strength, and supports higher-density planting.During growth, the difference between Short Stature Corn and traditional tall corn will start to emerge during the elongation phase (around V6-V7) and be fully apparent at tasseling. The stalks are consistently girthy. They appear to be roughly one third times thicker than traditional commercial stalks. The plant structure above the cob is relatively similar to traditional corn. The internodes below the cob are condensed. Total plant height typically comes in around seven feet, although there are hybrids closer to six feet. Traditional tall corn hybrids range from 9-12 feet tall.
The leaf structure typically stands more upright. They are wider and form a dense canopy. At higher populations, they give off a jungle look. More leaf area promotes more photosynthesis. This keeps the factory flowing and the yield potential climbing.
Roots tend to be a penetrating style. The larger root mass helps the corn plant utilize water and nutrients more efficiently, which is extremely beneficial in years of limited moisture.
Although not quite on the market, breeders are working with a Biotech trait to insert in any corn hybrid. This would give us the ability to turn a conventional tall hybrid into a short corn with the added benefits of the Smart Corn System. Being able to utilize this technology rather than just the native traits will open a whole new realm of possibilities.
Click to view.
What do we see at the local level?
Key Co-op has been a partner with Bayer throughout this innovative journey. Since it’s groundbreaking release in 2022, we have consistently found new acres that benefit from the system, as a whole. Across the state of Iowa, the average yield of traditional tall corn was roughly 231 bushels last year. The average of the Preceon was 239. We are seeing these results firsthand in our trade geography, as well. I personally believe that this is going to become a staple in the corn industry and am proud to be part of a team that promotes the future success.Recap from Dustin Thomas, Bayer:
"The Preceon Smart Corn System is really about unlocking the next level of yield potential in corn production. We know increasing planting density can increase yield, now we have hybrids that can handle higher planting density and have less risk to lodging. This is a technology developed by Bayer and a system co-created with farmers and Bayer. We are currently utilizing a double recessive naturally bred trait and will be quickly moving towards a biotech trait *pending approval. We have had experience with Preceon in our trade area in 2022, 2023, 2024 and we are excited to see what we learn in 2025. If you plant Preceon, you will have reduced susceptibility from wind damage but in order to unlock the full potential, there may be additional management needed. What would you need to invest into your crop to have field averages of 300 bushel, 325 bushel, 350 bushel/acre? Are you comfortable with planting densities above 40k plants/acre? What would you apply to your field if you could drive a ground rig in the field from planting to harvest? By working with Bayer and Key Cooperative, we can help answer some of those questions and see if the Preceon Smart Corn System is a fit for your farm."Click to view.
Overall, the Preceon Smart Corn System is designed to be a more profitable, more reliable, and more sustainable way of growing corn, compared to conventional methods. We will have numerous Preceon plots across our territory this growing season and will be looking for more Preceon acres next year. Give your local Key Cooperative agronomist a call to see/touch/feel the future for yourself!