May 27, 2009

Ohio corn planting is behind schedule now, but planting could be nearly complete by the end of May without too much crop damage later, said an agronomist with Ohio State University Extension.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, Ohio has planted 39 percent of its corn crop as of May 17, below the 52 percent planted at the same time last year. Recent rain and thunderstorms have delayed planting progress in the state.

However, Peter Thomison said good yields are still possible with late-May plantings, despite yield potential usually declining after May 10.

The average corn yield in the state for the 2008 crop was 135 bushels per acre, according to the USDA.

Late-planted corn is more sensitive to drought stress, stalk quality issues and disease and insect problems, but it's when planting creeps into June that these problems become more prevalent, he said.

"The real issues growers will be facing this season once they do get their corn in the ground are controlling weeds and managing nitrogen fertility," Thomison said in a press release.

He said much of what impacts the crop deals with the conditions corn undergoes later in the season than the conditions at planting time.

"Everything from a drought to a hurricane has the potential to hurt the corn crop more than late spring planting," said Thomison.

Growers should focus on planting in dry fields and hold off planting fields that may still be soggy, he said. Switching to shorter-season hybrids isn't necessary right now because early planted corn is beginning to develop, he said, so corn planted this week won't mature too far behind early planted corn.