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Tale of 2 seasons for emergence

Corn Watch: Corn emerged quickly in 2022, thanks to warmer temperatures.

Tom J Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

July 12, 2022

2 Min Read
flags note emergence times of corn plants
ONE COLOR DOMINATES: This year, most plants received the same color flag because they all emerged the same day. In 2021, a plethora of colors adorned the rows flagged to mark corn emergence.Photos by Tom J. Bechman

The spring season featured wet weather over a good portion of the Corn Belt in both 2021 and 2022. The difference was when wet weather came and what temperatures came along with it.

In 2021, the Corn Watch field was planted the last week of April. In 2022, a solid wall of wet weather prevented planting until May 11. However, cool temperatures and wet conditions after planting in 2021 resulted in the first corn emerging 11 days after planting, and emergence dragging out over 14 days. It was at least 25 days after planting before some plants emerged.

Related: Look for plant health clues midseason

By contrast, unseasonably warm mid-May weather resulted in corn emergence beginning less than seven days after planting this year. Within 48 hours, 95% or more of all plants that would emerge were out of the ground.

“The difference was dramatic between last year and this year,” says Dave Nanda, director of genetics for Seed Genetics Direct, sponsor of Corn Watch ’22. “Corn in the field we watched struggled to get out of the ground last year. This year, it almost jumped out of the ground.

“For corn to emerge within seven days of planting and for a whole field to emerge uniformly within 48 hours after that first plant emerged is remarkable,” Nanda says. “It is a testament to what can happen when the weather cooperates.”

Nanda credits the rapid accumulation of growing degree days in early to mid-May in most areas for super-fast corn emergence. This also aided fields that were planted earlier in areas that saw a break in the wet weather sooner.

Continued quick start

The quick jump on emergence set the stage for a fast start for the corn crop. A trend toward warmer-than-normal temperatures that continued through June meant plants continued growing at a rapid rate.

When Nanda visited the Corn Watch field on June 15, roughly 35 days after planting, corn was already at or near the seven-leaf stage. This means seven leaves with collars exposed on the stalk were already present. The growing point comes aboveground around the V5, or five-leaf, stage. So, the Corn Watch field was already passing knee-high, just 35 days since the planter left the field.

Dave Nanda stands in cornfield

Dave Nanda is amazed that this six- and seven-leaf corn was planted just 35 days before he visited the field.

“That is truly incredible,” Nanda says. “It simply shows how modern corn hybrids can respond to favorable growing conditions.

“What happens from here on out will depend largely upon weather patterns. Continued warm weather will push corn development. However, ample moisture from rains will be needed to keep corn growth patterns on track and retain high yield potential.”

About the Author

Tom J Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

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