COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s corn planting may be nearing completion, but corn damaged from saturated soils and ponding conditions from intermittent heavy rains may need to be replanted.
“There are fields that may have been adversely affected by localized ponding and protracted saturated soil conditions, along with recent hail injury,” said Peter Thomison, an Ohio State University Extension agronomist. “Farmers confronted with poor stands due to these conditions may be considering replanting their fields.”
Recommendation
Thomison recommends that farmers thoroughly assess their fields before rushing to replant. Replant decisions should be based on evidence that returns to replanting will not only cover replant costs, but also net enough to make it worth the effort.
“Growers who make the decision to replant need to inspect plants and assess the damage directly,” said Thomison, who also holds a research appointment with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Consider the factors
Thomison said that there are many factors to consider in a replant situation including intended plant stand, plant stand after damage, uniformity of plant stand after damage, original planting date, possible replanting date, and replanting pest control and seed costs.
“A major consideration in making a replant decision is the potential yield at the new planting date and possibly different plant rate. This can vary depending on the hybrid used, soil fertility and moisture availability,” said Thomison.
In addition, he recommends growers be mindful of seed and pest control costs.
“Depending on the seed company and the cause of stand loss, expense for seed can range from none to full cost,” said Thomison. He added that the cost of replanting would also differ depending on the need for tillage and chemical applications.
“For instance, it may be necessary to reapply herbicides, especially if deep tillage is used,” said Thomison. “You also need to review herbicide and insecticide programs under late-planting conditions. June planting does increase the possibility of damage from European corn borer, so planting Bt hybrids may be beneficial to protect the crop against European corn borer damage.”
Information
For more information on how to assess a replant situation, refer to the Ohio Agronomy Guide at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b472/0005.html.
