Example machine learning (ML) methods and systems for characterizing corn growth efficiency (CGE), and generating field management recommendations based on CGE values are disclosed. An example computing system includes one or more processors, and storage media. The media storing an ML model trained using a training agronomic data set labeled with one or more known CGE values corresponding to one or more trial agricultural fields. The media further storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: obtain a production agronomic data set corresponding to a target agricultural field; determine one or more input feature vectors based on the production agronomic data set; process the one or more input feature vectors, with the ML model, to generate one or more predicted CGE values for one or more portions of the target agricultural field; and provide the one or more predicted CGE values as an output.