Extension is expanding its online education and resources while in-person events and classes are canceled.
Corn planting
When growers follow research-based strategies for planting corn in Minnesota, they position themselves to maximize yield and economic return.
Guidelines by crop use
View general guidelines for corn planting for grain, including:
- The most favorable soil temperature.
- Optimal planting dates and planting rate.
- How to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
- When to avoid tillage.
Minnesota dairy producers can maximize their return when they follow these guidelines for optimizing corn silage production. Guidance covers:
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When to plant
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How many plants should be in your final stand
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Optimal row width
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How to avoid soil compaction
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Crop rotation recommendations
Planting best practices
Timely planting in good soil conditions is essential for successful corn production.
View guidelines about when to plant corn in Minnesota, which includes:
- The optimum planting dates to maximize corn yield.
- How to manage delayed planting.
- Risks of early planting.
To maximize profit, research shows Minnesota growers need a final stand of 32,000 to 34,000 plants per acre.
There are a number of factors that affect the final plant population and profit, including:
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Seed costs and corn price.
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Planting date.
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Row spacing.
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Hybrid relative maturity.
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Yield potential.
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Light intersection.
Producing corn in narrow rows can increase grain yield as much as 7 to 9 percent in Minnesota. However, narrow rows don’t always pay off.
Researchers have evaluated the factors that affect success with narrow-row corn planting, including:
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Minnesota region.
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Plant population.
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Machinery costs.
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Whether the crop will be used for grain or silage.
Handling delays and damage
When wet soil conditions delay planting, growers become faced with a number of decisions.
Based on extensive research, we’ve detailed considerations for late-planted corn in Minnesota, including:
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Yield losses.
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Planting dates.
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Which corn hybrid maturities to use.
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Seeding rate adjustments.
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Planting depth changes.
Deciding whether to replant after crop injury is one of the most stressful and important decisions a farmer has to make.
Our guide to evaluating crop damage and replant options includes:
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Seven factors for deciding whether to replant.
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How to evaluate the existing plant stand and the likelihood plants will regrow.
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The yield potential of late-planted corn.
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How to determine if replanting will pay, including a worksheet for making the decision.
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Alternatives to replanting, including options for other crops and silage.