Corn planting
When growers follow research-based strategies for planting corn in Minnesota, they position themselves to maximize yield and economic return.
Corn guidelines, best practices and potential issues
Grain
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.
Silage
Follow these guidelines for optimizing corn silage production, including:
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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.
When to plant corn
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.
Optimal plant population
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.
Row width considerations
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.
Delayed planting
When wet soil conditions delay planting, growers become faced with a number of decisions. Read 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.
Replanting corn
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.