We can finally say that corn is ‘up’ this week, although in some areas, plants are still slow to spike.  Fortunately, specialists and agents have received only a few calls about replants, although many producers may not have had time to check their fields with the push to work in dry ground this week.

• Producers are encouraged to check corn stands soon to address potential issues quickly if needed.
• Fields that may be at issue for poor stand seem to be those planted in early to mid April with soils that flooded or stayed saturated for several days, or where there is little surface residue resulting in surface sealing or crusting over.
• Fields planted around the 18th through the 20th are just now emerging well and most seem to be in decent shape.  A light shower this weekend may help soften sealed or crusted ground enough for plants to spike through.

Keep or Replant?  Ideally, a uniform but slightly thinner stand (at least 25K to 26K plants per acre) should be kept rather than replanting entire fields in May.  Spot replanting can be successful if producers can determine early on that parts of the field are lost and move quickly to replant.  Plant the same hybrid in the replant if at all possible.

Replanting to Soybeans?  If the calendar runs out, fields designated for corn can be planted to soybeans as long as there are no herbicide carryover concerns.  Pre-plant corn nitrogen may impact early season soybean nodulation, but should not affect yield unless we have a dry summer and large amounts of N are present at planting.

• In recent field studies sponsored by the TN Soybean Promotion Board, 60 to 90 pounds of N applied within a few days of soybean planting increased height (and lodging under irrigation) of the crop and reduced adolescent and mature nodule numbers at early bloom.
• Under irrigation or in wet trial years, a delay in nodulation did not result in a difference in yield.
• If lodging due to N is a concern, reduce soybean seeding rate or plant a well-adapted shorter statured variety.