Rain, Rain Go Away – We need to Spray!

With the cold, wet rain we’ve been having for the past 10 days or so, our mid 50s soil temps quickly dropped to the mid 40s in Eastern NY and even high 30s in Central NY. Across the U.S., corn planting has fallen behind. As of Monday, corn was placed at 15% planted across the country, just about halfway behind the 27% five – year average. Take a look at the growing degree comparison to 2018 in New York State since April 1st.

We’ve talked before about the importance of soil temp (50F or above) and planting at the appropriate time in comparison to the average date of the last killing frost (typically can plant 10 – 15 days beforehand). Don’t forget about looking at the future forecast. If you’re getting five days of cold rain, you may want to hold off. Planting before a cool, rainy period can lead to poor emergence due to chilling injury or seeds imbibing that cold water.

But what are the options if it’s too wet? Be patient. But let’s be honest, with such a short window to get our crop into the ground, patience isn’t our strongest attribute. Adjust Planting Depth. Plant shallower, but not too shallow, when the plant isn’t going to have to go far to reach water. Think 1.5 – 1.75 inches. Consider adjusting hybrids. If you’re getting nervous about your longer day corn, switch to a shorter hybrid, if possible. Take into account any potential yield loss, but also take into account the potential yield loss of planting into a field that is too wet and might have poor germination.

Soil pore space with higher percent water than air provides less CO2 and H2O available to roots and soil microbes for nutrient mineralization. Soluble nutrient (Nitrogen, Sulfur, & Boron) management and supplementation becomes a challenge to evaluate and deliver to the right place at the right moment. Visual observations may help to plan future moisture mitigation (tiling, ditches, or land leveling). Tissue analysis and PSNT’s on row crops may yield additional information to help make decisions on actions. The more information, the better – soil type, crop, yield histories, rotations, soil analysis, and nutrients supplied previously – need to be considered. Supplemental N, S, & B to legume crops should be considered as soil mineralization and nodulation is slowed or stopped in saturated soils. Take into consideration wet soil and tillage clumping providing a poor seed bed for soil – to – seed contact, seedling rots from wet, cold soils, and denitrification.

That’s all for this week! Next week we’ll tackle Winter Kill in Alfalfa! Stay Safe!