There are 2 options: minimizing axle weights and tire/track pressure, or adopting controlled traffic. Although the first option is the most popular, controlled traffic is better. For large grain farming, the first step to controlled traffic is to determine a "basic width". This is usually the width of the harvester. All other machines must match that width or a multiple of it. Next all tires/tracks are selected and spaced to minimize the number of tracks through the field and, if possible, fit between rows (for crops such as corn). New GPS-based auto-steering systems are a tremendous aid for establishing and maintaining a controlled traffic system. A frequent benefit of controlled traffic is that no-till yields greatly improve because the soil in not compacted annually by traffic.
For more information on this or other topics related to corn production, contact your state extension corn specialist or your local extension educator/agent.
The following is the link to the corn extension specialists: state extension corn specialist
