Planters are rolling this week as growers race to get corn in the ground.  Some producers have reported starting on soybeans or grain sorghum, as they wait for wet fields to dry up enough to get back to corn.  Non irrigated upland corn yields best when the crop is planted early, but this was not a spring that allowed us to plant substantial acreage before mid-April.  However, based on long-term planting date data, corn planted during the latter part of April yields similarly to corn planted in early May, so would expect yields to be similar for acres planted this week and over the next week.

How late can we plant corn??  The sooner the better still holds, regardless of the time of year, and folks should consider switching upland fields to other crops by mid-May.   Depending on personal experience with bottom fields, planting is starting late and will continue until the end of May or possibly early June.  Crop insurance dates changed slightly a couple of years ago.  West TN farmers can take advantage of full coverage crop insurance when planting through May 20 with a 15  day late plant window that would qualify for partial insurance coverage.  TN river farmers (Henry, Benton, Decatur, and Hardin )and producers in all other counties east may get full coverage insurance on corn planted through May 25th and have the same 15 additional days for late planting.