Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie is urging farmers to pay close attention to soil conditions and local weather forecasts as planting accelerates across the Midwest.
Ferrie and his team at Crop-Tech Consulting recommend using a “red-yellow-green light” system to guide planting decisions. The practice is based on three factors: soil moisture, seed chilling risks and the 10-day emergence forecast.
Regional Forecasts And Recommendations
Despite ongoing weather struggles from cold and rain in some parts of the country, planting progress continues across much of the upper Midwest. Ferrie says most soybean plots at the Farm Journal Corn College campus near Bloomington, Ill., are already planted, with corn planting underway.
Here is the “light color” Ferrie is sharing with farmers in parts of the Midwest who are trying to decide whether to plant this weekend:
- Jacksonville, Ill., and along the Highway 136 Corridor: Green until Sunday noon, May 10; switching to yellow until Monday noon.
- Northern Illinois: Yellow through Friday (today); green Saturday through Sunday noon; then back to yellow because of seed chilling risks.
- Iowa City: Yellow through Friday; green through Sunday noon; then yellow with the expected Mother’s Day cooldown.
- Cresco, Iowa & Blooming Prairie, Minn.: Red through Friday; brief green window Saturday; then yellow through Monday noon.
Ferrie warns that the first 12 to 24 hours seed corn is in the ground are the most critical. During this window of time, the seed absorbs 30% of its weight in water. If that water is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the cells lose elasticity and tear. Chilled seed corn can easily result in a 10% stand loss.
“You can literally tell the difference between fields that were planted in the morning compared to in an afternoon that’s going into a cool night,” Ferrie says. “That is why you’ll see our lights change at noon some days, trying to get enough water absorbed before the soil temperature drops.”
You can get more information from Ferrie on the perils of seed corn chilling in this brief video:
Ferrie says if corn takes longer than 11 days to emerge, those kernels that were planted “spike down” will struggle to compete.
“The spike-down plants can be a week or two weeks behind the spike-up plants,” Ferrie explains. “At that point, they will be more than a collar behind and not produce a regular-sized ear.”
Listen to Ferrie’s complete recommendations for the Mother’s Day weekend at the Boots In The Field podcast:
