Planting in Indiana picked up last week, especially in the southern half of the state. The northern half received more rain in spots, particularly in north-central Indiana north of Indianapolis, while most of the southern half remained dry or was only interrupted by small showers for most of last week.

Related: When is best date for planting corn?

Word is corn in Iowa was two-thirds planted by mid-last week, with the bulk of it going in the last few days of April and first few days of May.

Corn is emerging that was planted earlier in Indiana. Seed corn reps report starting to do emergence counts and scores on hybrids in test plots, especially in southern Indiana.

Assess emergence: Scouting early allows you to tell if plants emerged evenly.

Emergence scores are best when recorded early, because you are likely to see interference from other factors, such as insects or diseases, that might remove a plant if you wait until corn is even at the V5 stage. If you're after how evenly and uniformly the stand emerged, soon after seedlings pop through the ground is a good time to check, most agronomists say.

Remember that the goal is to have your planter set for the conditions, whether in conventional tillage or no-till, so that nearly 100% of the plants emerge within 24 to 48 hours – preferably within 24 hours. That means getting seeds at the same depth, especially if moisture conditions are different as you go deeper.

For more corn news, check out Tom Bechman's Corn Illustrated Weekly

Whether or not that happens is easier to gauge if you check fields soon after emergence starts. If plants emerge late, even one to two leaf collars late, Bob Nielsen, Purdue University Extension corn specialist, has said many times that they act like a weed rather than a productive plant.

If a later emerging plant surrounded by neighbors ahead on the growth curve puts on an ear, it's often a nubbin which contributes little to final yield and net profit.

From the corn hybrid you select to the seeding rate and row width you choose, every decision you make influences the size and scope for corn yields. Download our FREE report: Maximizing Your Corn Yield.