.corn-calculator-container {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9fbf7;
border: 1px solid #e0e6d2;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.corn-calc-header {
text-align: center;
background-color: #2c5e2e;
color: #ffffff;
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 6px 6px 0 0;
margin: -20px -20px 20px -20px;
}
.corn-calc-header h2 {
margin: 0;
font-size: 24px;
}
.corn-form-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.corn-form-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.corn-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.corn-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #333;
font-size: 14px;
}
.corn-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.corn-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #2c5e2e;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(44, 94, 46, 0.3);
}
.corn-calc-btn {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #e3b015; /* Corn Yellow */
color: #222;
border: none;
padding: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
border-radius: 4px;
transition: background 0.3s;
width: 100%;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.corn-calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #cda013;
}
.corn-results {
margin-top: 25px;
background-color: #fff;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 4px;
padding: 20px;
display: none; /* Hidden by default */
}
.corn-results h3 {
margin-top: 0;
color: #2c5e2e;
border-bottom: 2px solid #e3b015;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
font-weight: 500;
color: #555;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c5e2e;
font-size: 18px;
}
.article-content {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.article-content h2 {
color: #2c5e2e;
border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.article-content h3 {
color: #444;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.article-content ul {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
padding: 20px 40px;
border-radius: 5px;
}
.highlight-box {
background-color: #e8f5e9;
border-left: 5px solid #2c5e2e;
padding: 15px;
margin: 20px 0;
}
function calculateSeedingRate() {
// 1. Get input values
var targetPop = parseFloat(document.getElementById("targetPopulation").value);
var germRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("germinationRate").value);
var standLoss = parseFloat(document.getElementById("standLoss").value);
var rowWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rowWidth").value);
var acres = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalAcres").value);
var seedsPerBag = parseFloat(document.getElementById("seedsPerBag").value);
var pricePerBag = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pricePerBag").value);
// 2. Validate Inputs
if (isNaN(targetPop) || targetPop <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Target Final Stand population.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(rowWidth) || rowWidth <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Row Width.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(germRate) || germRate 100) germRate = 95;
if (isNaN(standLoss) || standLoss 100) standLoss = 5;
if (isNaN(seedsPerBag) || seedsPerBag 0) {
totalBagsNeeded = totalSeedsNeeded / seedsPerBag;
totalCost = Math.ceil(totalBagsNeeded) * pricePerBag; // Assuming you buy whole bags
}
// 4. Update DOM
document.getElementById("resSeedingRate").innerText = Math.round(seedingRate).toLocaleString() + " seeds/acre";
document.getElementById("resSpacing").innerText = seedSpacing.toFixed(2) + " inches";
document.getElementById("resLinearFeet").innerText = Math.round(linearFeet).toLocaleString() + " ft";
if (acres > 0) {
document.getElementById("resTotalBags").innerText = totalBagsNeeded.toFixed(2) + " bags";
if (pricePerBag > 0) {
document.getElementById("resTotalCost").innerText = "$" + totalCost.toLocaleString();
} else {
document.getElementById("resTotalCost").innerText = "Enter cost per bag";
}
} else {
document.getElementById("resTotalBags").innerText = "Enter acres to calc";
document.getElementById("resTotalCost").innerText = "-";
}
// Show Results
document.getElementById("cornResults").style.display = "block";
}
Optimizing Yield with the Corn Seeding Rate Calculator
Calculating the optimal corn seeding rate is one of the most critical management decisions a farmer makes before the planter ever hits the field. The difference between your target harvest population (final stand) and the amount of seed you actually put in the ground can vary significantly due to germination rates, soil conditions, and environmental stress. This Corn Seeding Rate Calculator helps you determine exactly how many seeds to drop per acre to achieve your yield goals.
Why Seeding Rate is Different from Final Stand
Many producers confuse "seeding rate" with "final stand." However, they are two distinct metrics:
- Target Final Stand: The number of living, productive plants you want at harvest time (e.g., 32,000 plants/acre).
- Seeding Rate: The number of seeds dropped by the planter to achieve that stand, accounting for mortality.
To calculate the correct rate, you must account for two primary loss factors: Germination Rate (the percentage of seeds viable in the bag) and Field Loss/Stand Establishment (seeds that germinate but fail to emerge or die due to crusting, insects, or disease).
The Math Behind the Calculator:
Seeding Rate = Target Population ÷ (Germination % × Survival %)
For example, if you want 32,000 plants, have 95% germination, and expect 5% field loss:
32,000 ÷ (0.95 × 0.95) = 35,457 seeds per acre.
Understanding Row Width and Seed Spacing
Once you determine the seeding rate, it is vital to understand how that translates to plant spacing within the row. Uniform spacing minimizes competition between adjacent plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight.
As row width narrows (e.g., moving from 30-inch to 20-inch rows), the distance between seeds within the row increases for the same population. This calculator automatically determines the linear spacing in inches required to hit your target population based on your specific row width configuration.
Economic Impact of Seeding Accuracy
Over-seeding wastes money on expensive seed inputs without necessarily increasing yield—in fact, too high a population can lead to stalk lodging and increased competition stress in dry years. Under-seeding fails to utilize the field's full yield potential. By inputting your Acres to Plant and Cost Per Bag, this tool helps you budget accurately for the planting season.
Factors Influencing Your Target Population
When using this calculator, consider adjusting your Target Final Stand based on:
- Soil Productivity: High-yield environments generally support higher populations (34,000+), while drought-prone soils may require lower populations (24,000–28,000).
- Hybrid Flex: "Fixed ear" hybrids require higher populations to maximize yield, while "flex ear" hybrids can compensate for lower populations by producing larger ears.
- Planting Date: Early planting into cold, wet soils often experiences higher mortality, requiring a higher seeding rate adjustment.