By Angie Peltier and Jeff Coulter et.al
The following information was provided during a 2025 Strategic Farming: Field Notes session. Use your preferred podcasting platform or listen online to a podcast of this Field Notes session hosted by UMN Extension IPM educator Anthony Hanson.
Minnesota’s corn progress and condition
Minnesota’s corn in early July is progressing similarly to the 5-year average for crop progress and just slightly ahead of 2024, with the most recent USDA crop progress and condition report indicating that 6% of the crop is silking. Much of the corn in Minnesota is about 10 to 12 days away from silking and has entered the critical period of growth and development, which ranges from about 12 days before silking to 3 weeks after silking. Heat or drought stress before silking can cause a delay in silk emergence relative to pollen shed, thereby affecting the success of pollination. Stress during the 3 weeks after silking can reduce kernel set by causing some kernels to dry up and be lost. Most recently, the warm days and cool nights that the crop has been experiencing are ideal.
With the cooler June temperatures, some may be worried about the crop being significantly behind in accumulating growing degree days. While the crop may be slightly behind, for the most part it is right on track. What has been unique about 2025 is the very early start to the beginning of planting season. For some, planting began in mid-April, while other farmers were planting through mid-May. Warmer temperatures during the vegetative growth stages and cooler temperatures during pollination and kernel fill tends to bode well for a corn crop.