This article from the April 1976 issue of Farmer's Digest discusses Herman Warsaw's high yield practices.

1. How the world record corn yield w a s made
Herman Warsaw set a new world record of 338 bu. per acre last fall
with good management and liberal use of inputs
From FS News
MINIMUM tillage, high fertility,
heavy population and quality
hybrids are part of the ingredients increased, yields 1 have been
of success for the producer of the experiencing on the farm in recent
world's record corn yield.' years are my reward. It has been
Herman Warsaw, who has been more than worth the extra time
farming near Saybrook, 111., since and effort."
1942, established the new record When Warsaw hit 267 bushels
of 338 bushels of No. 2 corn last in 1973, he began to look for new
fall exceeding the previous world horizons and immediately set out
record by more than 30 bushels. to achieve a 300 bushel goal by
He credits much of his success 1978.
to testing new hybrids and yearly Here are some ofthe ingredients
adjustments in his cropping of his recent and most successful
program. And added to that are season:
his 40 years of experience as a Minimum tillage — after
government crop reporter, 25 harvesting last fall, Warsaw
years as a federal land bank followed up with a shredder and
director, 22: years as a local and disc and later with the chisel plow.
county ASC committee man and His moldboard plow has been
eight years on the county soil and retired to a corner of the machine
water conservation district-board. shed for the past five years. He
In seven years of competition in brings it out only occasionally to
a five-acre corn growing contest break up the hard pan of fields on
(1967-73) sponsored by FS Ser- some of his rented land.
vices, Inc., Warsaw pushed his test Crop residue — the shredded
plot yields from 167 to 267 bushels corn stalks help hold the soil
per acre. For the past five years he against the ravages of wind and
has produced 200 bushel corn. water erosion. The residues also
When asked if he felt his help retain fertilizer and moisture.
experimenting was worth the Its merits are really proven in a dry
effort, Warsaw replied, "The season.
From FS News, FS Services Inc., 1701 Towanda Ave., Bloomington, IL 61701

2. "U
THE FARMER'S DIGEST APRIL
Hybrid — Warsaw used FS 854 potash.
(same variety used in 1973), a full Soil tests" — he takes them
season single cross corn. He yearly on his test plots, every three
planted 34,000 kernels per acre in years elsewhere. The test on his
28 inch rows on April 22. Harvest record breaking corn plot showed
population was 33,000 plants per a pH level of 6.4, P 1 test of 282
acre. and K test of 896 and 8 percent
Fertility — he applied 20 tons of organic matter.
hog manure (18 tons of crop Warsaw plants 10-12 varieties
residue which,had been placed on each year, all of varying maturity
his hog feedlot to keep the hogs ranges, to spread his risk. Know-
out of the mud and later applied ing the stress ability of corn
on his corn field), 1,000 pounds of varieties and response to high
3-10-10, 200 pounds of 18-46-0, population and fertility levels can
250 pounds of 0-0-60, 325 pounds produce high yields, .he contends.
of actual nitrogen, and 150 pounds
of 6-24-24. In summary it Warsaw owns 260 acres and
amounted to 400 pounds of rents the rest of the nearly 700
nitrogen, 228 pounds of acres he farms. His research plots
phosphate and 286"' pounds of are on rental land.
Cleanliness key to trouble-free hydraulics
It isn't a matter of much maintenance but rather regular manintenance i
that keeps hydraulic systems operating, says Kansas State University Ag
engineer Paul Stevenson.
Most common problems that need attention, Stevenson says, are
related to fluid in the hydraulic system. When incorrect fluid is used in 1
the system, problems often crop up. Also, when filters are not changed
often enough, the system may become clogged.
In fact, Stevenson says, the key to maintaining hydraulic systems is
cleanliness. Keep containers spotless and use a clean funnel with a fine-
mesh screen when filling the system. Check fluid within the hydraulic
system. If it shows sludge, sediment, or gum and lacquer formations, the
system should be cleaned and Hushed before refilling.
The fluid does the work T transmits the power generated by
—
hydraulic cylinders in the system. All parts in the system are closely
fitted to force the fluid through the lines. There's no room for any
foreign particles, Stevenson emphasizes. Any contamination can lead lo
serious hydraulic system problems. — Nebraska Farmer