Farmers are continuing to plant both corn and soybeans in central Iowa.

For the most part, the bulk of the corn is planted; however, areas along Highway 20 in Webster, Hamilton, and Hardin County were only able to get into fields early this week to start planting. Southern Wright County farmers and eastern Story County/western Marshall County farmers were also held out of field due to wet soils. Planting in those areas has really progressed this week. Most of the corn has been planted. Farmers are still planting soybeans in many areas. In most areas the farmers are on the “downhill side” of planting and most hope to finish soon. Again those areas along Highway 20, in southern Wright County, and Story/Marshall County are still working hard on soybean planting.

Crusted soils are common in most areas of central Iowa. These conditions have contributed to uneven corn emergence in many fields. Farmers are rotary hoeing to break the crust. They report seeing rapid improvement in emergence after the fields are rotary hoed. Re-planting areas that drowned out or washed out is also common. Farmers and agronomists are evaluating fields and determining which areas to re-plant. ISU date of planting information indicates that corn planted now will provide roughly 90-95% of potential yield when compared to a normal planting date. That equates to approximately 180 – 185 bushels per acre if a 200 bushel per acre is used. The 200 bushel per acre assumption may be a little high; perhaps a more realistic yield would be 180 bushels per acre. Ninety percent of 180 is 162 bushels per acre. Of course the grain moisture of re-planted corn will be higher. A final stand of 24,000 plants per acre will provide 94% of relative yield potential. That would be 188 bu/acre if a 200 bu/acre yield is assumed and 169 bu/acre if 180 bu/acre yield is assumed. I’ve been farmers that a current stand of roughly 25,000 plants per acre will provide the same yield as corn that is replanted now. Obviously the cost of the seed and planting needs to be considered also.

The comments of one farmer brought the size of the problem home to me. He said, “I’d hoped to have a Memorial Day holiday like most others, but it looks like I’ll be re-planting corn.” Unfortunately that is the case for many farmers in our area.

On the positive side, most corn fields have emerged – with varying degrees of evenness in the stand – and generally have pretty good color. I did notice a few that had a purple cast. The purple color would be due to a limited root system. With warm weather the corn should grow rapidly and the soybeans should emerge quickly.

SOURCE: ISU’s John Holmes

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