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Focus on good germination and emergence at corn planting

An extension corn agronomist wants farmers to focus on what is required for good germination and emergence.

Jeff Coulter with the University of Minnesota says as planting time approaches, there is one very important consideration to remember.

“For corn seeds to germinate it requires to imbibe 30 percent of its weight in water, and this imbibition of water occurs independently of soil temperature.  So if that seed is planted when it’s quite early in the calendar year, and there’s a lot of time between planting and emergence, that can increase the risk of stand establishment issues.”

Coulter reminds corn farmers to wait until soil temps are above 50 degrees, and says optimum planting depths are around two inches.