In a perfect world, all corn would emerge within a narrow window – ideally 12 hours. But the reality of every field emerging evenly, let alone every acre, is slim to none. But farmers can track emergence and use that information to guide decisions later in the growing season. In a year where margins are tighter, farmers can be more strategic with management decisions based on field history and what emergence signals about their yield potential.
Scout corn at 100 to 120 GDUs
Corn typically emerges at about 100 to 120 growing degree units. Farmers should routinely scout those acres as that time nears, using the cadence of when fields were planted. Record the dates and timing of emergence for each field, using a data-management system or by hand. Note how long corn sat in the ground and how evenly it emerged. Whether corn sits in the ground for seven days or 17 days will impact replant decisions – and how to manage that field going forward, especially if wet weather persists.
How a crop emerges tells much of the story of the season. Emergence is a major consideration for what corn hybrids are added to AgriGold’s lineup.