The Corn King’s Guide to Conquering High Yields

Sam Santini has quite a reputation. ‘The Corn King’, as he’s known locally, has been pushing yield limits on his family farm and sitting comfortably at the top of his state’s National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) leaderboard for 30 years. When you picture the view from Santini’s throne, you likely imagine rolling Midwest cornfields, but the truth is that he finds success in an unexpected setting — Franklin Township, New Jersey.

You read that right. The Santini family grows 2,000 acres of high-yielding corn, soybeans and sorghum in fields nestled throughout the hustle and bustle of northwestern New Jersey. Santini loves to shock his Midwest peers with contest results and strategies grown in the Garden State.

“Farmers all over the United States know me and always ask, ‘How do you grow corn in New Jersey like you do?’ because they don’t know about agriculture in our part of the country. I tell them, ‘Come on out and see.’ I love to talk about NJ ag,” Santini says. “It’s not all cement, concrete and pavement out here. A lot of people don’t realize we grow some pretty good crop yields.”

That’s an understatement considering his record. Santini has won the New Jersey state Conventional Non-Irrigated category of the NCYC, hosted by the National Corn Growers Association, for 30 years and he’s not slowing down. The 2024 season saw him reach one more milestone in his ascent by winning the same category on the national level with 383.43 bu/A.

The hard work and years spent refining his strategies have paid off for the Corn King and he has practical tips to share. Whether you have contest aspirations or are busheling through a down market, Santini knows that higher yields are possible with the right tactics.

Start With Soil

An early start and a lifetime of putting soil first has contributed to Santini’s success. “I’m a third-generation farmer. I’ve been farming since I was 10 years old. It takes time to make high yields. My goal the whole time was to make the soil better,” he says.

Santini doesn’t take any shortcuts to accomplish this goal. He regularly meets with a crop consultant to sample soil and discuss the data. A partnership with a trusted crop consultant can help growers make the best decisions that support short- and long-term goals. Staying informed and spotting issues early has two purposes: first, it preserves the land he knows and loves for the next generation; second, it sets the foundation for additional tactics that drive yields throughout the year.

“When you’re fortunate enough to grow on your own land, investing in it can pay off in the long run,” Santini says. In New Jersey and other states where farmland can be hard to come by, rented land can complicate things. It may not be possible to build soil health on land you might only grow on for a few seasons, especially if it wasn’t a priority for the previous steward.

“I take samples and get recommendations. We keep on top of soil health to keep high yields. But in some fields with rented ground, it’s harder to maintain to our standard in the limited time we might have it,” Santini says. “We can really take care of our own ground the way it’s supposed to be taken care of and the long-term changes make a difference in the end.”

Though healthy soil sets the foundation for higher yields, it’s only one variable. Santini believes the New Jersey climate works in his favor. “We are lucky here. The temperatures change with the season, and we have the right temperatures to produce a really good crop.”

Control the Controllable

There are plenty of variables growers can’t control, but you can, however, focus your efforts on the factors within your control.

Santini has decades of experimenting with tactics to help control weeds and diseases. “There are two places where I’ll never cut corners and that’s using herbicides and fungicides,” he says. “I use Acuron corn herbicide on all my corn,” Santini says. “It’s been working great for me every year I’ve used it.”

The unique combination of active ingredients in Acuron^® herbicide, including bicyclopyrone, provides powerful weed control, long-lasting residual and crop safety. When every kernel counts, it makes a difference — that’s why Santini counts on it year after year.

Not only does effective weed control keep weeds from stealing yields, but it can also set the stage for premium fungicides to help increase yields. He plans to be ready with his fungicide of choice, Miravis^® Neo, well before diseases show up in the field.

“To get extra bushels, pay attention to your planning, timing and choice of fungicides,” Santini says.

Trials show fungicides like Miravis Neo deliver yield bumps regardless of weather and disease severity, thanks to the plant-health benefits of exclusive active ingredients like ADEPIDYN^® technology. Santini is confident in the value of premium products and his contest results show what’s possible when healthy soil and mild climate meet the right crop inputs.

What’s Next for the Corn King?

Santini plans to continue competing for the same reasons he started in 1976: to push his farm’s yield limits and enjoy the process.

“It’s great. I love to see competition and I welcome anybody to try because it’s possible,” Santini says. “I went to my first award conference in 1981 and met a lot of people from all over the United States. I’ve talked to other farmers, exchanged notes and learned a lot since then.”

His competitive spirit continues to drive him toward his next goal: 400 bushels per acre. “I’m not there yet, but I was really close this year,” Santini says. “My corn was definitely the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve got more to do yet.”

And where does he plan on accomplishing his next goal? Right at home in New Jersey, of course.

“Would I ever want to farm anyplace else? No. I love it in New Jersey.”