SPRING PLANTING WINDOW WOES

The month of May has come and gone, and we still have a good portion of our corn acreage left to plant here at Miner Institute. While we haven’t been completely flooded out, the frequent weather systems have kept the planting windows very tight - making it difficult for us to get large blocks of fieldwork done at a time. While no two locations experience the exact same conditions, our situation at Miner Institute is far from unique.

Wet conditions in the month of May stretched all the way down the East Coast, with some areas experiencing one of their wettest Mays on record. Our neighbors in Vermont, for instance, got their second wettest May on record. It’s no wonder that planting progress was at less than half of what it usually is this time of year based on the most recent reports.

The good news is that we still have time to raise a great corn crop this year. Our seasons have been getting longer, and studies show that most of the yield potential is still there for corn planted in early June. If you are concerned about yields, no-till some extra corn acres into first cut stubble and spray the regrowth as soon as you can. This has worked very well for us here at Miner Institute– especially in years like this where spring moisture is abundant. Keep your starter fertilizer rate the same, but you may want to cut back on total nitrogen for the year since the yield potential is a little lower and use efficiency may be a little higher for late-planted corn. In some ways, it is better to plant corn late than plant before a cool, wet streak, since the nitrogen can be lost while the corn just sits there in the ground.

When we do get some sunshine, there is always a temptation to jump the gun and start planting corn into mud. This is never a good idea, it is better to bide your time and wait for conditions to improve. Sidewall compaction from a wet spring can easily ruin a crop when it shrivels up in July and August since the roots can barely get beyond the planter furrow.

Those who have prioritized their haylage should keep doing so. One of the benefits of a spring like this is that the cool wet weather is perfect for high-quality grass growth. You just have to get it on time. If you didn’t get manure out on second cut. Hit the stands that are mostly grass with some nitrogen to set yourself up for a high-quality second cut. If you didn’t get first cut on time, your best bet is to prioritize corn and designate 1st cut as heifer feed.

— Allen Wilder

wilder@whminer.com