Corn Planting: How Important is Timing? Part 1

Based on the progress of the 2017 planting season, this information seems very relevant again.  Take a look at part 1 of the thoughts from Andy Paulson on late planting.

With the additional rainfall we have experienced in much of central and Northern Illinois this spring, it is no surprise planting has been delayed.  The majority of farmers still have a portion of corn acres (and a large amount of soybean acres) left to plant once the skies clear and the fields drain.  With delayed planting inevitable, it begs the question:  how important is timing?

Typically, people think about three things when planting late in spring:

  1. Yield loss per day
  2. Seed bed quality
  3. Product placement

If the items above are listed in the order you would prioritize them on importance, I challenge you to look from a new angle.  Try the following order on for size:

  1. Seed bed quality (Part 1)
  2. Product Placement (Coming Soon – Part 2)
  3. Yield loss per day (Coming Soon – Part 3)

Why is seed bed quality more important than yield loss? What is so important about product placement? Let’s consider…

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Seed Bed Quality

In years of delayed planting situations, we tend to focus on plant date more than the seed bed quality.  In turn, we plant into a cool, wet seed bed that is less than ideal for plant growth.  Planting into such seed bed opens the door for more adverse conditions to negatively affect our goal of higher yields.  Some examples are side wall compaction, absence of emerged coleoptiles, corkscrewed mesocotyls or coleoptiles, and true leaves emerging from the side of coleoptiles.

These detractors have significant and immediate implications to yields while also increasing chances of higher yield loss down the road.  If drier conditions come in to play later in the same season, the plants are even more susceptible to loss of yields due to poor root development, uneven emergence, and overall weaker plants.

Now, it is probably safe to assume that you have spent a decent amount of time this year working with your AXIS Seed representative to properly select and place the correct product for your specific environment.  In order for a product to reach its maximum yield potential, it should be placed in an ideal soil bed to promote proper root and plant development.  Even perfectly placed, top performing products will suffer in subpar seed bed conditions.

The bottom line? Waiting until the soil conditions are fit is better than planting in cool, wet soil just to be planted sooner.

Written by Andy Paulson

Owner – Axis Seed Direct

 

 

May, 14, 2016

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